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Tine Life-Story and Personal 
Renniniscences 



Col. John Sobieski 

(A LINEAL DESCENDANT OF KING JOHN III, OF POLAND) 



WRITTEN BY HIMSELF 



TO WHICH IS ADDED HIS POPULAR LECTURE 



"The republic of Poland" 

(NOW FIRST PUBLISHED) 



AND 



A BRIEF HISTORY OF POLAND 



WITH ILLUSTRATIONS 



Shelbyville, III. 
J. L. DOUTHIT & SON, Publishers 
1900 



5616 



UG O \ ^^"^ COPIES HECEl VE£). 

Library of Congress^ 
, ^(J^S OfncG of thf 

m 1 3 1900 

Hcgl8t«r of Copyrijiitj;, 
SECOND copy, V 




63364 

Copyright, 1900, . 

BY 

J. L. DOUTHIT & SON. 



BROWN &. WHITAKER, PRINTERS, HAMILTON, OHIO. 



DEDICATION. 

To my comrades in the United States army, 
who served with me in behalf of national unity; to 
my comrades who served with me in Mexico in 
defense of that republic ; and to those noble men 
and women with whom I have for more than thirty 
years labored in behalf of the temperance and 
other reforms, this volume is dedicated. 

The Author. 



INTRODUCTION. 

The late Dr. Benjamin Jowett of the University 
of Oxford once said: "We shall come in the future 

m 

to teach almost entirely by biography. We shall 
begin with the life that is most familiar to us, the 
life of Christ, and we shall more and more put 
before our children the great examples of persons' 
lives, so that they shall have from the beginning 
heroes and friends in their thoughts." 

All intelligent adults in recalling the things 
that most influenced their early lives will appreci- 
ate the wisdom of Dr. Jowett's prophecy. Multi- 
tudes of the wisest and best will testify that their 
first ambition for a noble life began with reading 
the life-story of some good man or woman. 

What a quickening to faith and what an inspira- 
tion to righteous endeavor is that account in the 
eleventh chapter of Hebrews, of the "great cloud 
of witnesses" (martyrs "of whom the world was 
not worthy") "who through faith subdued king- 
doms, wrought righteousness, * * stopped the 
mouths of lions, waxed valiant in fight," etc., etc.! 

" The glorious company of the Apostles." 

"The goodly fellowship of the Prophets." 

"The noble army of Martyrs." 

It is the life and example of such that move 
the world. 



vi Introduction. 

Many millions of people all over Christendom 
have been thrilled with admiration and moved to 
thank God and take courage at the story of the 
Polish patriot and Christian soldier, King John 
Sobieski, who in a mighty battle at the gates of 
Vienna ( A. D. 1683 ) rescued Christendom from 
the terrible Moslem invasion. "That hero's 
victory, with his little army of Poles against ten 
times the number of Turks," says an English his- 
torian, "caused all Europe to ring with the praise 
of John Sobieski and echo the words chosen by 
Pope Innocent for his text when the great news 
reached Rome: 'There was a man sent from God, 
whose name was John ' (John 1 : 6). For Sobieski 
had not merely delivered Austria — he had saved 
Europe." 

And then again, how our youthful hearts have 
been stirred with righteous wrath against the 
oppressor, and warm sympathy with the oppressed, 
as we have read in our school-books of the down- 
fall of the Polish Republic, and the cruel partition 
of that country by the three great powers, Prussia, 
Russia, and Austria — this last named being the, 
same country that Poland's brave little army had 
delivered from Turkish pillage and slaughter. 
** Oh, bloodiest picture in the book of time ! 

^ ^ >1< >f; :;!< il< 

Hope, for a season, bade the world farewell, 
And Freedom shrieked as Kosciusko fell." 



Introduction. ' vii 

More than fifty years after that " Battle of 
Warsaw" (1794) which Campbell celebrates in 
verse, in another heroic effort for Polish freedom, 
Count James Sobieski, the lineal descendant of 
King John III., fell as Kosciusko and others had 
fallen. That James left an only child, a son six 
years old, named John, for his grandfathers. This 
son, with an inborn enthusiasm for liberty, having 
heard of free America, soon after his father's death 
found his way to this country. And here he has 
been for forty-five yeai;s, giving himself entirely to 
patriotic and humane service: for the first ten 
years in the regular United States army and 
through many battles; then for two years helping 
Mexico to a republic; and since then as an American 
citizen he has spent his time in the halls of legisla- 
tion and the field of reform endeavoring to rescue 
the weak and tempted and protect the home from 
the drink demon. 

In these pages is given for the first time the 
life-story of this very worthy son of Poland's 
patriot kings and defenders — a son who, if that 
people were free to choose, might to-day be ruler 
of a Polish Republic. 

(Perhaps it ought to be said, that while the 
author of this book has especially requested me to 
give this introduction, yet he has not been consulted 
as to what I shall say about him here, and will not 



viii " Introduction. 

read this till he sees it in book form. If there be 
errors in it, I alone am responsible.) 

A most unassuming man, it was only by much 
importunity that Colonel John Sobieski's friends 
prevailed upon him to dictate his life-story for pub- 
lication. In fact, it was a long- time before his most 
intimate acquaintances learned many of the facts 
in his life that seem stranger than fiction. The 
shrewd newspaper reporter did not learn of his 
royal lineage till within recent years, so that dur- 
ing the past twelve months for the first time the 
great dailies and some magazines have published 
sketches of this "royal Polish patriot, famed as a 
soldier and statesman." Always in love with 
democracy and free government, and imbued 
with hatred of the idea of aristocracy and a titled 
nobility, in his earlier years he held it no credit in 
itself to be of kingly lineage, and kept the fact to 
himself. In Europe to-day the renowned family of 
Sobieski is thought to be extinct ; because, from 
the time this sole surviving member, when a twelve- 
year-old boy, secreted himself in the hold of a 
vessel bound for America, nothing has been heard 
of him. 

But ''blood will tell." All of Colonel John 
Sobieski's acquaintances who have read the story 
of King John III. in the book entitled "The 
Wizard King" (now out of print), recognize a 
marked resemblance in many particulars. 



Introduction. ix 

Though Colonel Sobieski never sat in the 
schoolroom a day in his life, and never was trained 
and taught as were his fathers, except by his 
mother before her early death, yet he betrays a 
nobly cultured ancestry. This is evident in a 
splendid physique, in rare gifts of mind, and in 
most courteous bearing and high moral character. 
He is well educated in the truest and best sense. 
True, he lacks much that he might have learned in 
our common schools, and at Oxford or Harvard; 
and none more regrets this than he. Never- 
theless, he has been an intelligent observer and 
an extensive reader all his life (though he hardly 
knows how he learned to read), and as necessity 
arose learned to talk in several different tongues, 
though doubtless not always according to the dic- 
tionaries and grammars. But, as a wise and 
scholarly critic has recently remarked in refer- 
ring to the late Evangelist Moody: "Grammatical 
and rhetorical niceties are not the final test of 
intellectual greatness and genuine culture." 

The story in the following chapters is printed, 
with very few and slight changes, just as it was 
dictated to an amanuensis by the author; and 
dictated, too, within a month, wholly from memory, 
and with scarcely any reference to books. 

Colonel Sobieski is an ideal orator. He simply 
"talks right on." He has never written a line 
of any of his numerous lectures and addresses, 



X Introduction. 

and makes no written notes in preparing them — 
a most remarkable fact for one who has been so 
constantly on the platform. He is ready at a 
moment's notice to give a speech or talk on 
any subject with which he is familiar. For instance, 
a friend asked for a copy of a lecture that Colonel 
Sobieski had not delivered for ten years. He com- 
plied with the request by dictating the address 
exactly as delivered, though he had come to have 
different views since that time. He is not a one- 
ideaed man. He is continually surprising his inti- 
mate friends by his varied repertoire. He is ready, 
seemingly, at any time, to preach a sermon, conduct 
a funeral service, deliver a patriotic address, a 
Biblical or historical lecture, or make a stump 
speech, — and do it well, — always stopping when his 
auditors are saying "Go on." And what a fund of 
fact, and fresh stories ! But don't ask him to tell 
"that story." Ten to one he will not. It must 
tell itself, as it were, when he wishes to illustrate 
a point. 

He stands almost alone in being so very radical 
and outspoken in his convictions for reform, and 
yet so popular with people of all classes and parties. 
The reason of this popularity is that his natural 
kindness is always kindly expressed, and he habit- 
ually stands for fair play to everybody. Generous 
even to his own hurt, — he can hardly say no to a 
call for charity, — yet he is always strictly honest, and 



Introduction. xi 

faithful to promises. Once when an organization 
of which he was a member got so embarrassed 
financially that a majority advised repudiation, 
"Brother John" rose in his might with a thundering 
*'No ;" (for, though habitually gentle, he speaks 
with mighty emphasis on occasion). "Give me 
two years' time," said he, "and I'll raise that money 
(about $8,000) myself rather than have a good 
cause disgraced by repudiating a just debt." 

And he did it, though he impoverished himself 
in the doing. It was just like him. 

For habitual buoyancy of spirit, and for always 
seeing the roses rather than the thorns in life's 
pathway, his friends say they have never known 
his equal. He is the only man the writer ever 
heard say that he never had "the blues," though 
he often suffers excruciating pain from that bullet- 
shot through his body and stomach — a wound that 
the army surgeons pronounced mortal at the time. 
And yet, since then he has traveled more miles, and 
delivered more lectures to more people, than any 
one now living in America; but he says he never 
was weary from a day's work, though he has often 
been very sleepy and hungry. 

Although he richly deserves a pension, he has 
never applied for it. Why not? Because, he 
says, the government has already too many pen- 
sioners, and he prefers to take care of himself as 
long as he can. Here is a man who might have 



xii Introduction. 

been a millionaire since coming- to America, but 
he has deliberately chosen to be as poor in this 
world's goods as the great Master he loves to 
follow. He was frequently offered promotion in 
the United States army, for brave and meritorious 
conduct, but he declined. He was offered choice 
of any position with commission in the Mexican 
army, but he preferred to be simply chief of staff 
of the commanding general, Escobedo. And after 
he had helped lead the army of that republic to 
victory, the Mexican government, to show its 
gratitude for his splendid service, tendered him a 
tract of several thousand acres of land; but he 
would accept no compensation whatever, and 
returned to his adopted country to spend his life 
in pleading for purer morals and juster laws. 

What an inspiring example of unselfish devo- 
tion to the highest interests of country and mankind! 
What a harvest of good seed sown! And what a 
blessed reward, even in this life ! So that he may 
well say, as he does, that he would be happy to 
live his years over again just as he has lived them. 

While this Polish-American soldier lay bleed- 
ing on the field of Gettysburg, the surgeon said he 
must die, and kindly advised him to make his peace 
with God. "I've had no fuss with God," was the 
ready reply, in the best English the young count 
knew. 



Introduction. xiii 

Always at peace with his Creator, ready to 
serve and suffer for the lowliest, tender to little 
children, kind to dumb animals, and courteous to 
every human being — 

'' He wears the look of a man unbought, 

:!^ ^ ^ ^ >^ ^ 

Yet touched and softened nevertheless 
With the grace of Christian gentleness ; 
The face that a child would climb to kiss ; 
True and tender and brave and just, 
That man might honor and woman trust." 

J. L. D. 
Shelbyville, Illinois, February 10 f igoo. 



CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

CHAPTER I 1 

My birth — Descendant of King John Sobieski — My ancestors 
— Father joins the Revolution — Captured and imprisoned 
— His death — My mother's summons to Warsaw — Her 

' interview with the viceroy — Her refusal of the proposition 

I of the viceroy — Our banishment. 

CHAPTER II 7 

Banished — Journey to the frontier — Refusal of the Austrian 
authorities to let us land — Go to Posen — Ordered out by 
I ■ the Prussian authorities — Go to Brussels, Berne, Milan 

j — Expulsion from Milan — The case of Captain Ingraham — 

Arrival in England — Louis Kossuth and Hungary — 
My uncle Joseph Bem — My pledge to my mother on her 
death-bed — My parents — My mother's death. 

1 CHAPTER III 17 

I My voyage to America — Arrival in America —Enter the 

United States army — Barracks at Carlisle, Pennsylvania — 
Jeiferson barracks, St. Louis — Sent to Fort Leavenworth 
to join the Utah expedition under General Albert Sidney 
Johnston — Our journey across the plains— Fort Bridger — 
The Mormons — Ordered to New Mexico — War with the 

I Apaches — Return to Fort Fillmore, i860. 

CHAPTER IV 38 

Second enlistment — Ordered to Fort Leavenworth — News 
of Lincoln's election — Ordered East with Lieutenant 
Armistead on recruiting service — Brooklyn, New York — 
Dr. Van Dyke's great sermon in defense of slavery — Hear 
Henry Ward Beecher reply — Hear Wendell Phillips on 
John Brown's death — Ordered to Washington — Closing 
scenes in American Congress before Lincoln's inauguration 
— Inauguration of Mr. Lincoln — Beginning of the Civil War. 

CHAPTER V 52 

Washington after the surrender of Fort Sumter — Mani- 
festation everywhere of Southern sympathy — Entrance 
of Northern troops — Change of public sentiment — Gathering 
of the Union army — -Organizing the army — Marching into 
Virginia — Battle of Bull Run — Our defeat — Retreat to 
Washington — Demoralization of the army and people. 



xvi Contents. 

CHAPTER VI. .. 59 

Arrival of General McClellan at Washington — Bringing 
order out of chaos — Preparation for the defense of the city 
— Complete defensive works erected about the city — 
Lincoln calls for five hundred thousand men — General 
McClellan made the commander-in-chief of the army — 
Organization of the Army of the Potomac — Peninsular Cam- 
paign — Our arrival at Fortress Monroe — Battle between the 
Monitor and the Merrimac. 

CHAPTER VII 68 

Capture of Norfolk — Destruction of the Merrimac — Siege of 
Yorktown — Battle of Williamsburg — Our sojourn in the 
Chickahominy swamps — Battle of Fair Oaks — Seven days' 
battle in front of Richmond — Our retreat to Harrison's 
Landing. 

CHAPTER VIII 74 

The army at Harrison's Landing — Our corps ordered to 
reenforce Pope — Defeat — McClellan again in command 
— March into Maryland — Battle of South Mountain — Battle 
of Antietam — McClellan removed — Burnside in command 
— Battle of Fredericksburg. 

CHAPTER IX 91 

March again — Stuck in the mud — General Burnside super- 
seded by General Hooker — Reorganization of the army — 
Advance again on the foe — Battle of Chancellorsville — 
Charge of the Eighth Pennsylvania — Our defeat — Discour- 
agement. 

CHAPTER X 96 

The death of Stonewall Jackson, and its effect on the Con- 
federate army — Lee's march into the North — We follow 
him — Arrival on the field of Gettysburg— The battle — 
Thrilling description of Pickett's charge — Wounded — A 
faithful comrade — Taken to the hospital for the mortally 
wounded, near Hagerstown — Taken to the hospital at 
Washington — Rapid recovery — Rejoin my company — 
Ordered before Casey's examining board — Commissioned 
colonel of a colored regiment — My declination — Rejoin my 
company — Crossing the Rapidan — Retreat — Winter quarters. 

CHAPTER XI 110 

Reorganization of the Army of the Potomac — Preparation 
for the campaign of 1864 — Grant visits us — Opening of the 
campaign — Battle of the Wilderness — Terrible slaughter 
— Changing of our base to Petersburg — Siege of Petersburg 
begun. 



Contents. xvii 

CHAPTER XII. . 115 

Interest in the struggle for liberty in Mexico — Interview 
with the Mexican minister, Romero — Commission to raise 
men to go to Mexico — Take a vacation for a couple of 
months — Go to New Orleans — Informed by the United States 
authorities that we will be arrested if we proceed to Mexico 
— Arrested — Discharged on parole of honor — Determined to 
goat every hazard — Finally enter Mexico by way of Sonora. 

CHAPTER XIII 124 

Arrival in camp of patriots — Their little army — Different 
nationalities — The character of the Mexican greaser — I 
trust them and find them reliable — What we had to eat — 
The way the contest was carried on — A thrilling adventure. 

CHAPTER XIV 130 

The meeting with General Escobedo — Become a member 
of his staff — The French rapidly leaving the country — News 
■•arrives that the last detachment of French has left, and that 
Maximilian has left the city of Mexico and gone out to 
Queretaro, where he proposes to make his last stand— His 
capture, trial, death — My impressions of the Mexican leaders 
and their corps. 

J CHAPTER XV 133 

j The summoning of a military commission to try Maximilian 

— Universal demand for his death — Found guilty and 
sentenced to death, which was to take place within five 
days of his sentence — The trial of Generals Miramon and 

\ Mejia — Efforts made by the different European nations and 

the United States government to save Maximilian — The 

i refusal — His death — Reflections. 

CHAPTER XVI 141 

My impressions of President Juarez, Escobedo, and Diaz. 

CHAPTER XVII 150 

My return to the United States — Visit different points in the 
United States — Finally settle down in Minnesota — Become 
a reformer in politics — Elected to the legislature — Introduce 
three reform measures. 

CHAPTER Xyill 167 

Elected to the Right Worthy Grand Lodge of Good 
Templars — The persons whom I met there — Go to England 
, — Lecture in England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales — Returfi 

to Ihe United States and begin my career as a lecturer for 
the Good Templars. 



xviii Contents. 

CHAPTER XIX 179 

The Grand Secretary— Other leaders of the Order— My 
first year's work as a lecturer — Result of my work. 

CHAPTER XX 203 

Kentucky — George W. Bain — T. B. Demaree —Progress of 
the work during 1878 and 1879 — My marriage — Work in 
Wisconsin — Right Worthy Grand Lodge of Good Templars 
1879, etc. 

CHAPTER XXI 215 

Campaign in Wisconsin — Colonel B. F. Parker — Prohibition 
campaign in Iowa and Illinois. 

CHAPTER XXII 220 

Campaign of 1883 in Wisconsin — Presidential campaign of 
1884 — Prohibition camp-meetings in New York — Governor 
St. John — Result of the election, etc. ^ 

CHAPTER XXIII 231 

My work in Dakota — Mr. Folsom — Right Worthy Grand 
Lodge at Toronto — My trip to Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, 
and Newfoundland — In the camps of New York — Candidate 
for Congress — Lecturing again in South Dakota — Death of 
Mr. Finch — Convention at Indianapolis — Nomination of 
Fisk and Brooks. 

CHAPTER XXIV 240 

Clinton B. Fisk— John A. Brooks — My trip to California — 
The assembly at Long Beach — Enter the campaign in Cali- 
fornia for Plsk and Brooks — Los Angeles — Sacramento — 
San Francisco — Return East — Campaigning in Missouri and 
Pennsylvania, etc. 

CHAPTER XXV 257 

Taking a rest — Speaking in Michigan, Illinois, and the 
Dakotas — Back to Pennsylvania again. 

CHAPTER XXVI 261 

My mother-in-law's funeral — Return Home— A few days' 
rest — Return to Illinois — Nominated for governor — Letter 
of acceptance — Canvass for governor — A few days' rest after 
the election — Lecturing in Illinois and Ohio — Attend the 
World's Fair — Enter into partnership with Dr. Tracy. 

CHAPTER XXVIl 273 

My work in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, New York, Canada, 
Rhode Island — Lithia Springs — Rev. Jasper L. Douthit — 
His history — My work in Illinois, Missouri, etc. 



Contents. xix 

CHAPTER XXVIII 282 

Pittsburg convention — A division in the party — Lithia 
Springs — My work during the campaign — Result of the 
election — A few weeks' rest — Speaking again in Illinois and 
Missouri — The Toronto session of the Supreme Lodge. 

CHAPTER XXIX 296 

The debate and decision on the Scandinavian question — 
Lithia Springs — Grand Lodge of Good Templars of Illinois, 
etc. — Conclusion — The wolf in sheep's clothing unmasked — 
A great crime. 

THE RISE AND FALL OF THE POLISH REPUBLIC 3l8 

A BRIEF HISTORY OF POLAND 348 

LIFE OF KING JOHN SOBIESKI 370 

KING JOHN SOBIESKI, 1683 381 

COLONEL JOHN SOBIESKI, 1892 383 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 

PAGE 

King John Sobieski Frontispiece 

Colonel John Sobieski 1 

Colonel Sobieski's Family 64 

Uriah Copp, Jr 188 

Miss Mary Sobieski 212 

Lou J. Beauchamp 236 

, Jasper L. Douthit 276 

Lithia Springs Chautuaqua Grounds 288 



CHAPTER I. 

My birth — Descendant of King John Sobieski — My ancestors — 
Father joins the Revolution — Captured and imprisoned — His death — My 
mother's summons to Warsaw — Her interview with the viceroy — Her 
refusal of the proposition of the viceroy — Our banishment. 

I was born in Warsaw, Poland, September 
10th, 1842. My father was Count John Sobieski, 
the son of James Sobieski who lost his life in the 
Revolution in Poland of 1830 and 1831, and a 
lineal descendant of King John Sobieski who 
is known in history as John III., being myself sixth 
in the direct line through the oldest sons of 
oldest sons of that great warrior monarch. My 
mother's maiden name was Isabella Bem, of the 
celebrated Bem family, so noted for their patriot- 
ism. Her oldest half-brother served under the 
great Napoleon, and was in most all of the strug- 
gles for liberty in Europe, from 1815 until his 
death in 1853. 

My father was educated in the schools of 
Poland, France and Germany, graduating from the 
university at Heidelberg in 1840, when he was 
about twenty years of age. Immediately upon his 
graduation he returned to his native country, enter- 
ing the service with the rank of colonel in the 
Polish contingent of the Russian army. Here he 
was serving at the outbreak of the insurrection in 
1846, which insurrection he entered into at once 



2 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

with all the enthusiasm of one of the Sobieski 
race. He participated in several battles of that 
contest, was wounded, captured, and imprisoned, 
and was finally executed by the Russian govern- 
ment March 10th, 1848. 

The estate of my father was situated about one 
hundred and twenty miles from Warsaw, and as 
soon as the insurrection broke out, my mother with 
her boy — myself — at once repaired to the estate, 
which was one of the largest in Poland, compris- 
ing two hundred thousand acres of land. My 
mother learned that my father had been wounded 
and captured by the Russian army, and supposed 
that they had put him to death, as she did not 
hear of him again for more than a year. 

But all this time my father was suffering the 
horrors of a Russian prison. For some thirteen 
months he was struggling for existence in that 
prison, without a bath or a change of clothing, in 
a cell infested with vermin of every description. 
One day he was visited by a Russian officer, who 
informed him that it had been decreed by the 
Russian government that he must suffer death. 
The officer told my father that, if he had any reason- 
able request to make, it would be granted. His 
only request was that he might be privileged to see 
his wife and boy. 

One day my mother was surprised by receiving 
a visit from a detachment of Cossack soldiers, who, 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 3 

in the name of the Czar, ordered her to get ready 
and follow them. 

Not knowing whither we were bound, in our 
own carriage, driven by our own servant, we pro- 
ceeded with the soldiers. I remember the journey 
well. It was in the latter part of February or the 
first of March. In that north country winter had 
not abated any of its rigor, so I remember the 
severe cold and the gay trappings of the soldiers. 
We could not have been more than two days mak- 
ing the trip, stopping now and then for a few min- 
utes rest, and for refreshments. We arrived in 
Warsaw at night. 

The next morning we were ordered to appear 
before the viceroy of Poland, who was a brother of 
the emperor. He was a man noted for his savage 
and unfeeling nature. But, to my mother's aston- 
ishment, he received her with every token of 
respect and regard, and seemed, indeed, almost 
friendly. He told my mother that he had an 
unpleasant duty to perform, and would do it 
just as gently and as kindly as possible. He 
informed my mother that my father was still living, 
but that he would be executed the next morning ; 
and that her father and her two younger brothers 
were in the same prison with my father, and would 
be executed at the same time with him. He said 
that he now had a proposition to make to her, and 
he hoped that she would consider it carefully ; 



4 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

that she would not let any sense of wrong she 
thought she had suffered prevent her from making 
a wise decision, as the future welfare of herself and 
child was in her own hands, and depended upon 
her answer. He said that the emperor had author- 
ized him to make her this proposition: That if she 
would consent to have her boy taken from her that 
day, conveyed to an institution under the direc- 
tion of the Greek Church, where he would be care- 
fully guarded, instructed and educated under the 
supervision of the teachers of the Greek Church, 
(the pbject of the Russian government being to 
nationalize me, that is, to make me an adherent 
of the Russian government ), assuring her that 
everything should be done for his welfare and cul- 
ture, and that she should have the privilege of 
occasionally visiting him ; — if she would consent to 
this and take the oath of fidelity to the emperor, 
she might return to the estate unrestrained and 
enjoy it until her son arrived at his majority, when 
he would come into possession of it himself: but, 
on the other hand, if she refused this proposition, 
then on the morrow a decree would be issued in the 
name of the emperor, expelling her and her son 
forever from Poland upon the penalty of death, 
should she or her son ever return, or enter any 
territory controlled by the Czar ; and that our 
estates and all of our belongings would be forever 
confiscated to the Czar. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 5 

The viceroy very kindly offered my mother 
proper time to consider the proposition, and 
begged her to take the time. But my mother 
without any hesitation told him such a proposition 
would not require time for thought or considera- 
tion. Her mind was already made up. She said : 
" Sire, you can tell the emperor for me, that he can 
take from us our estate, he can take from us all we 
possess in the world, banish me and my child 
from our native land, home and kindred, to dwell 
in foreign lands among strangers. I may be 
compelled to beg bread for myself and boy, but I 
will go, and I'll teach my boy that he is a Pole, and 
to love liberty and to despise tyranny, and to revere 
and cherish the cause which his father cherished 
and died for, and to hate with undying hatred that 
nation and sovereign who murdered his father 
and kin and despoiled his country, and sent us into 
exile. " 

When my mother had thus spoken, we were 
dismissed from the presence of the viceroy, and 
were then taken to see my father in that terrible 
prison dungeon. Though fifty-one years have 
elapsed since then, and I have passed through 
many scenes, yet that terrible picture has never 
been effaced from my memory. In a small room 
without a single ray of sunlight, and with but a 
few straggling rays of daylight, we found my 
father. The dirt and filth were appalling — indescrib- 



6 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

able. How he had existed for more than thirteen 
months, it was beyond our comprehension to con- 
ceive. Nothing but his splendid constitution had 
sustained him. For six hours we were permitted 
to be with him. Those six hours were spent in 
loving caresses and counsel. Promptly at the 
expiration of the time we were summoned forth. 
The parting was such as you might have expected 
of a brave man and a brave woman knowing that 
they should never meet again till they should meet 
in the land of spirits. My mother at once made the 
request that she might be permitted to visit her 
father and brothers, as they were confined in the 
same prison. This was refused, and we were then 
taken back to our hotel. The next morning my 
father and grandfather were executed. My father 
was not quite twenty-eight years of age at the time 
of his death. 

Before we left Warsaw my mother learned 
that her younger sister, whose age was twenty, 
and who had been arrested and imprisoned some 
months before, had been sentenced to Siberia 
for twenty years at hard labor. Later, we met with 
a bishop of the Greek Church, who was present at 
the departure of my aunt for Siberia, who described 
her departure, chained to a gang of convicts, whose 
company she was to march in for twenty-eight 
hundred miles, all of which must be made on foot. 
She was never heard of afterward. She probably 
died or was murdered by the Cossack soldiers 
en route. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 



CHAPTER II. 

Banished — Journey to the frontier— Refusal of the Austrian authori- 
ties to let us land — Go to Posen — Ordered out by the Prussian authorities — 
Go to Brussels, Berne, Milan — Expulsion from Milan — The case of Captain 
Ingraham — Arrival in England — Louis Kossuth and Hungary — My uncle 
Joseph Bern — My pledge to my mother on her death-bed — My parents — 
My mother's death. 

Two or three days after my father's execution, 
my mother and I were placed in a sleigh, and 
under escort of Cossacks were started toward the 
frontier. We were driven out without any 
preparation at all, for my mother never dreamed 
when she left our ancestral home, that she was 
never to return. She took but a limited amount 
of money, and left all of her diamonds, valued at 
more than half a million of dollars. She often said 
that if she had taken these along- with her, they 
would have secured her support, or furnished her 
all the revenue she might have needed. 

After days of journeying, we arrived on the 
frontier of Galicia, the part of Poland absorbed by 
Austria. We were halted by the Austrian authori- 
ties, who in a few hours informed us that our 
presence was not desirable. From thence we 
went to the province of Posen, known as Prussian 
Poland. After sojourning there for a few weeks, 
we were one morning peremptorily ordered out of 
the country. 



8 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

The reason for our ejection both by the 
Austrian and the Prussian authorities was evident. 
Both of those countries were being rent at that 
time by revolutionary movements, and, as we were 
political exiles, we were looked upon with suspicion 
and dread. 

From thence we went to the city of Brussels, 
in Belgium. After sojourning there some weeks, 
we went to Berne, Switzerland, the beautiful capi- 
tal of that country. Here we remained for more 
than a year, my mother teaching a school of young 
ladies, in languages, music, and painting. 

From there we went in 1850 to Milan, Italy. 
My mother's health had begun to fail her, and 
she Avent to Milan, where she had some friends, 
and where it was thought her health would be 
better. 

On the way we visited Rome. I still have a 
recollection of the Eternal City. Much as I 
enjoyed its walks and drives, my pleasure was 
greatly marred by the poor beggars, who seemed 
to meet us in swarms at every turn. 

After living in Milan for something over a year, 
an event occurred that hastened our departure. 
Captain Duncan N. Ingraham, of the United 
States navy, while cruising in the Mediterranean 
Sea, had entered the little Turkish town of Smyrna, 
where he learned that an American citizen by the 
name of Martin Koszta had a day or two before 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 9 

been seized on the streets and taken aboard an 
Austrian ship of war, placed in irons, and held as a 
prisoner. 

The history of Martin Koszta had been this: 
He was a Hungarian, and had taken part in the 
revolution under Kossuth. He succeeded in mak- 
ing his escape after the failure of the revolution, 
and came to the United States, where he had 
taken out his naturalization papers. His health 
failing him, he returned to Europe and took a 
journey up the Mediterranean. The steamer, or 
ship, stopped at Smyrna, where he went ashore. 
Smyrna being a neutral port, no doubt he con- 
sidered himself perfectly safe ; and so he was, as 
far as international law was concerned. But in 
some way he was recognized; and the Austrian 
commander being informed of his presence, he was 
arrested and taken aboard the Austrian ship, and 
no doubt would have been returned to Austria or 
Hungary and executed. 

Captain Ingraham, on learning of his arrest, 
went alongside of the Austrian ship and asked if 
Martin Koszta was aboard. He was at once 
informed that he was not and had not been. Cap- 
tain Ingraham then went ashore, where he was 
informed that Koszta was aboard that ship, as the 
ship had been watched every moment from the 
time he had entered it. Ingraham then went 
alongside the Austrian vessel and asked the same 



lo Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

question again ; and again Koszta's presence 
was denied. 

He returned ashore, where he met the admiral, 
or commodore (for there were three Austrian ships 
of war lying in the harbor). He said to the admiral: 
" I have been credibly informed that an American 
citizen by the name of Martin Koszta has been 
arrested upon these streets and taken aboard your 
flag-ship, and is now held as a prisoner. I have 
been to your ship twice, and twice the commander 
of your ship has lied in my face and denied there 
was any such person aboard." 

The admiral answered by saying: "Martin 
Koszta is a subject of his Majesty Franois Joseph, 
and is held a prisoner on board my flag ship, 
and you can see him if you so desire." 

Captain Ingraham immediately went aboard 
the Austrian ship. When Martin Koszta was 
brought before him in irons, Koszta was asked if 
he was an American citizen. He said he was. 
He was asked if he demanded the protection of 
the American government. He said he did. He 
was informed that he should have it. His release 
was at once demanded, but the Austrians refused 
to give him up. Captain Ingraham then gave 
them twenty-four hours time to release and restore 
the prisoner, and said if he was not released at the 
end of that time, he would open his guns upon the 
Austrian ship. But the Austrians laughed him to 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. ii 

scorn, as they had three ships, three men, and three 
guns, to the Americans' one. The ship that Cap- 
tain Ingraham commanded was the sloop of war 
St. Louis. 

When the next day dawned there was great 
excitement and stir in the little Turkish town. 
People gathered on the hilltops overlooking the 
bay, watching with deep interest everything 
going on in the harbor. 

Now, before the expiration of the time, the 
governor came to Captain Ingraham and thanked 
him for his willingness to protect the neutrality of 
his port, but said that, with their superior arma- 
ment, the Austrians would sink him in a short time. 
The answer of Captain Ingraham was : " I know 
my duty and shall do it ; and unless the prisoner is 
released, I will open my guns upon them at the 
time specified." 

He now steamed his ship into better position, 
where he could bear directly upon the flag-ship of 
the Austrians. Quarters were beat, guns loaded, 
and every man was at his post ; Captain Ingraham 
was on the quarter-deck, with watch in hand, 
waiting for the expiration of the time, when, just 
five minutes before the expiration of the time, a 
boat was let down from the Austrian ship, the 
prisoner was surrendered to the French consul, 
and by the French consul released and placed a 
free man upon the streets from which he had been 



12 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

taken : and the monarchs of Europe had learned 
for the first time, that the young Republic of the 
West was strong enough and brave enough to 
protect her people everywhere, and would do it at 
every hazard, even though such citizens might be 
of foreign birth. 

It was while returning from the Mediterranean 
that Captain Ingraham called at Milan. A demon- 
stration was made in his honor by the people of 
that city, and especially by the political exiles who 
were then residing there. This greatly offended 
the government, and the viceroy, Archduke 
Maximilian, at once ordered the expulsion of all 
the political refugees residing in that city, and for- 
bade them residing in any part of Italy that was 
under the Austrian government. 

I remember Captain Ingraham well. I remem- 
ber that as he passed under the window of 
the hotel where my mother and I were standing 
and waving our handkerchiefs at him, he raised 
his eyes and bowed and smiled upon us. That 
moment he was forever photographed upon my 
heart. That was forty-eight years ago, and yet, if 
I were gifted with the power of an artist, I could 
easily put him upon canvas, so vivid is my memory, 
of him. He was a South Carolinian, and an ideal 
Southerner in every respect ; tall, dark, and hand- 
some, — a typical, splendid specimen of the Ameri- 
can sailor, of which brave body Paul Jones, 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 13 

Stephen Decatur, John Rodgers, Commodore 
Perry, Admiral Farragut, Dewey, Sampson, Schley, 
and Hobson are representatives ; men who have 
made the American navy glorious everywhere 
and for all time to come. 

The viceroy who decreed our banishment, as I 
have already stated, was Archduke Maximilian, 
the brother of the emperor of Austria. He him- 
self afterward played the imperial act in a farce in 
Mexico. I shall refer to him again, later in 
my story. 

My mother now proceeded with me to England, 
that glorious old land of liberty. I was now old 
enough to appreciate what that word liberty 
meant ; and oh, how I rejoiced to be among the 
generous, warm-hearted, liberty-loving people of 
that country ! For all classes, from the queen to 
the peasantry, showed interest in our behalf. 

Some months after our arrival in England, 
Louis Kossuth, who had been liberated from his 
prison in Turkey, together with my uncle, General 
Joseph Bem, visited England. I remember Kossuth 
well : he was then in his prime. I remember 
his patting me on the cheek and telling me 
that some day I, too, would fight for liberty. No 
man in England ever received greater ovations 
than did he. From there he proceeded to 
America, where still greater honors awaited him. 
Congress gave him a vote of welcome to the land. 



14 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

American statesmen like Webster, Sumner^ 
Douglas, Seward, and Hale, voiced the sentiment 
of Congress and of the people in welcoming to 
these shores the glorious champion of liberty. 
After a few months he returned to Europe and 
sought to interest some of the nations there in 
behalf of his country. Failing in this, almost 
broken-hearted, he retired to Genoa, Italy, where 
he spent the rest of his days. 

After Austria received its stunning defeat at 
the hands of France, and again at the hands of 
Prussia, by which it lost its place as the head of 
the German states, they sought to conciliate 
Hungary by conceding to her all she strove for 
under Kossuth : a diet of her own, a ministry, and 
a constitution. This seemed to conciliate Hungary : 
but it did not Kossuth, who said there could be 
no reliance upon Austria ; that he could not trust 
the House of Hapsburgs, for they would betray 
Hungary whenever it would pay them to do it. 
Austria rescinded its decree of banishment of 
Kossuth, restored his property to him, and he was 
elected a member of the Hungarian Diet; but still 
he would not return, saying that he could only live 
in free Hungary, or not at all. So he died in 
Genoa, in March, 1894, at the age of ninety-two, 
beloved and mourned by all who love liberty, 
patriotism and consistency. 




mmm mmmsmn mm mism m 

KING OF POLAND 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 15 

My uncle Joseph Bern, who served under 
Kossuth, had led a life of rare devotion. He had 
fought for liberty almost everywhere : wherever the 
cause of liberty was in peril, he entered into it with 
all the enthusiasm he displayed when fighting for 
his own country. He returned to Turkey, as he 
saw unmistakable signs of a coming conflict 
between that country and Russia. He became 
naturalized as a Turk, was raised to the rank of 
pasha, reorganized her army upon the modern 
plan, and, while right amidst his work, suddenly 
died in December, 1853. It was supposed he 
was poisoned by some one in the pay of Russia. 
But he lived long enough to put Turkey on such 
a good military footing as to enable her army to 
beat the Russian army in every battle that 
occurred the year afterward. 

After living about six months in England, my 
mother's health had failed so rapidly, that it was 
deemed best that we be separated. So I was 
placed in the family of a Polish gentleman by the 
name of Zolaski. My mother continued to decline 
rapidly, and in September, 1854, she died. She 
was twenty-nine at the time of her death. 

I do not know much about the personal appear- 
ance of my father, as he died when I was so 
young. But those whom I have met who did 
know him, described him as being tall, with amass 
of black curly hair, large, flashing, black eyes, and 



1 6 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

very handsome, — a thorough soldier. My mother 
I remember very well. She was of medium 
height, would weigh perhaps one hundred and 
twenty pounds. She had beautiful, dark auburn 
hair; her eyes were dark brown, not very large, 
but tender and beautiful. I have had people say 
to me, '' What a beautiful woman your mother 
is!" It may be asked by those who know me, 
why I did not inherit some of the good looks of 
either my father or my mother. That seems to 
be one of those things that we can't account for. 
My mother did one thing for me that I shall 
always remember with gratitude. She made me 
pledge to her on the day of her death, that I would 
never, as long as I cherished her memory, drink 
strong drink, gamble, or take the name of God in 
vain; and I have never in the slightest degree 
violated this pledge. It has proven to me of more 
estimable value than any wealth she could possibly 
have left me. When she died she left me in a 
land of strangers, without a penny, and, as it were, 
without friends. But that pledge has kept me 
through those years when I was in the army, when 
I was young, tempted and tried. The love which I 
cherished of a noble memory made me strong 
against every temptation ; and all that I am, and 
all I expect to be, and all the good that I have 
accomplished in fighting the liquor traffic, — all 
belong to her. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 17 



CHAPTER 111. 

My voyage to America — Arrival in America — Enter the United States 
army — Barracks at Carlisle, Pennsylvania — Jefferson barracks, St. Louis — 
Sent to Fort Leavenworth to join the Utah expedition under General 
Albert Sidney Johnston — Our journey across the plains — Fort Bridger — 
The Mormons — Ordered to New Mexico — War with the Apaches — 
Return to Fort Fillmore, i860. 

At the time of my mother's death I was 
adopted into the family of Professor Kaloski, of 
Liverpool. They were very kind to me, and I 
shall always remember them with sincere affection, 
and regret that I repaid them so poorly for all their 
kindness to me. Professor Kaloski's wife was an 
English lady of rare accomplishment and beauty, 
who, before and after my mother's death, did all 
for me that a mother could have done. 

Professor Kaloski came of one of Poland's 
noblest families. In the uprising for liberty in 
1830, he entered enthusiastically into the struggle, 
and when it failed, lost all, and was compelled to 
go into exile. He came to America and was for 
some two or three years an instructor at 
Annapolis, our naval school. Before coming to 
this country he had lived in England for a year or 
so, where he met the beautiful woman who after- 
ward became his wife. It was she, I suspect, 
who drew him back to England, where he married 



1 8 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

and settled down. He was a strong, stern man by 
nature, yet kind of heart. He was all to me that 
a father could have been. 

But while I was content in this lovely home, 
my mother had told me about America ; of it 
being a land of liberty, where oppression by the 
government was never known ; of Washington, 
Jefferson, Franklin, and all those splendid heroes 
who made this republic a land where there was 
complete equality before the law. It became to 
me my ideal land ; and I shall never forget my 
delight and joy, when I beheld for the first time 
the beautiful flag of this republic in the port 
of Liverpool. 

In the fall of 1854, or rather, December, 1854, 
the United States ship of war, Constellation, 
Captain John Cravens commanding, came into 
Liverpool. Captain John Cravens had been a 
pupil at Annapolis when Professor Kaloski was 
instructor, and a great friendship had sprung up 
between them. He frequently visited the home of 
Professor Kaloski while in Liverpool, and in that 
way I became acquainted with him. 

There was a young midshipman by the name 
of Abbot, who frequently accompanied him. A 
great acquaintance and friendship sprang up 
between us, though he was some three or four 
years older than I. He was a whole-souled, free- 
hearted, careless young fellow, always doing a lot 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 19 

of reckless things, and yet loved by everybody. 
He could say anything or do anything, even on ship- 
board, with all of its rigid discipline, without 
punishment, beyond now and then a severe repri- 
mand. To him I imparted my great desire to come 
to America. He persuaded me to let him smuggle 
me aboard the ship, which he did, down in the 
sick bay, where I was dressed as a young sailor, 
and a sick one at that ( and the most of the time 
it was literally true ); and in this way I was 
successfully concealed until we were entering the 
harbor of New York, when my presence was made 
known to the commander. Cravens. His astonish- 
ment and anger were beyond bounds ; but he soon 
got over both of them and became very kind to 
me, for he was a noble, good man. He wanted to 
know of me what I desired to do. I told him I 
wanted to be a soldier ; that all of my ancestors 
had been, and I wished to be. 

He said, " Why, my dear boy, you are not big 
enough; what could you do?" 

I said, " Sir, I can blow the bugle as well as 
anyone ; and you have a boy aboard the ship who 
blows the bugle for the marines, who is not any 
larger or older than I." 

"Well," he said, "we will see what we 
can do." 

Some days after he came to me and took me 
to Governors Island, where I was introduced to 



20 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

the commander of the post ; here a bugle was 
brought in and I was asked to give them some 
music on it. I did so, and it was highly satisfac- 
tory. Captain Cravens then became my guardian, 
and enlisted me in the United States service 
April 26th, ISoo. This noble man was lost at sea 
during the Civil War, off Cape Hatteras, serving 
the flag which he loved so well. 

After remaining on Governors Island a few 
weeks, I was sent to Carlisle barracks, Pennsyl- 
vania, where I was to be instructed further in 
music, drilled and disciplined, and converted into 
a soldier. I could speak or understand but a few 
words of the English tongue ; but I rapidly picked 
it up, and in a few months could understand nearly 
everything that was said to me, and make all my 
wants and desires known. 

A circumstance occurred shortly after going to 
Carlisle, that did much to set me forever against 
the evils of strong drink. Up to this time, I had 
never known much of anything about intoxicating 
liquor. I had seen people drink wine, but had 
never seen anybody drunk that I knew of. In the 
barracks there at Carlisle was a sergeant by the 
name of Warmingham, as fine a specimen of a 
man, physically, as I ever saw ; a perfect soldier. 
I remember, as young as I was, how I used to 
admire his fine looks and wonder if I would ever 
be as fine looking a soldier as he. One day the 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 21 

men were paid off, and Sergeant Warmingham 
that afternoon went over to town. I remember as 
he passed out the gate in his clean, new uniform, 
with his white gloves, my admiring eyes followed 
him far as I could see him. He did not come back 
that night — indeed, it was several days before he 
did come back ; and when he did return — what a 
looking man ! He was brought back by two 
policemen — drunk, crazy, cursing and raving. He 
was placed in a cell, where I heard his ravings for 
days afterward. He was finally court martialed, 
reduced to the ranks, and set to work about the 
grounds with a ball and chain. When I used to 
look out upon his blackened, bruised face, looking 
so wicked and desperate, and I was told that the 
cause of it all was strong drink, it so turned me 
against that dreadful beverage, that I have never 
ceased to hate it from that day to this, and shall 
hate it as long as I live. 

After a while I was ordered to Jefferson bar- 
racks, near St. Louis. Jefferson barracks at that 
time was quite a rendezvous. 

It was while I was at Jefferson barracks that I 
saw General Lee, then Colonel Lee, on the staff of 
General Scott. He came to the barracks on a tour 
of inspection. We were several days getting in 
trim for his visit. I remember him well. He was 
a very handsome man at that time, probably 
between forty-five and fifty years of age ; a perfect 



22 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

soldier in his manners and bearing. His refined 
face and manners I shall never forget. Little did I 
think at the time, that in so few years I should be 
fighting an army of which he would be the com- 
mander. 

The commander of the post at that time, and, 
indeed, of that department, was General Harney, 
at that time one of the best known and popular 
men in the service. He had served in the army 
more than a quarter of a century; in Florida, in 
Mexico, and on the plains. He was a typical 
frontier soldier ; strong, brave and daring ; hated 
and feared by the Indians as no other man. At 
the opening of the Civil War he was still in com- 
mand of that department. He adhered to the 
Federal government, but because of some act of 
his at the opening of the war, and perhaps to 
make way for a younger man, he was retired. 

I remember a circumstance while at Jefferson 
barracks, that gave me all the experience with 
tobacco that I ever had. Some boys who were 
musicians went up to St. Louis. They drank beer 
and wanted me to ; upon my refusal to do so they 
made fun of me and called me a "girl". I stood 
that as well as I could, but felt it deeply. Then 
they offered me a cigar. I thought I would com- 
promise with them on that, but regretted afterward 
that I did. We sat and talked and smoked, and 
I grew dizzy, then sick, and then began to throw 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 23 

up. I not only got sick, but I got awfully sick. 
The first hour I was really afraid I was going to 
die; and the next hour I was afraid I wouldn't die. 
The boys took me into the rear of the saloon, and 
laid me on a cot where the other topers usually 
4ay when too drunk to promenade. Finally, the 
boys started me back to the barracks. When we 
arrived at the barracks my red cheeks were all 
gone: I was so weak I had to be led. I was taken 
to my room and was laid upon my bed. 

A few minutes afterward the sergeant of the 
guard came in and said : " Where is that drunken 
musician ? " 

My comrade said, " He is not drunk, but he is 
sick from smoking a cigar. " 

"I know better, " said the sergeant, " let me 
see him. " 

He came along to my bedside and said: " Are 
you drunk ? " 

I said, " No sir, I never drank any liquor in 
my life, but I smoked a cigar and I'm afraid I'm 
going to die. " 

He said, "Oh, h — ! you'll be, all right in the 
morning. I'll excuse you from roll-call to-night. " 

I was all right in the morning, but I came to 
this conclusion : that two things which many men 
consider absolutely necessary for their happiness 
and well being, whiskey and tobacco, for some rea- 



24 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

son or other, were never intended for me ; so I 
bade them adieu forever. 

I was shortly after this, in the spring of 1857, 
ordered to Fort Leavenworth, which was being 
prepared to suppress the trouble then brewing 
in Utah with the Mormons. In the winter before, 
Congress had passed stringent laws for the sup- 
pression of polygamy. This was done at the 
demand — or practically at the demand — of the 
whole nation, which was shocked at the develop- 
ment of polygamy in one of our territories, and it 
was determined, at whatever cost to the nation, 
that it should be suppressed. Yet, as I dictate 
these words to-day, we learn that a treaty has been 
made with the so-called Sultan of Sulu, that not 
only permits polygamy in one of our newly 
acquired Philippine Islands, — not only permitting 
it, — but the sacred honor of the nation is pledged 
that it shall never be interfered with. It has been 
the proud boast of our country for thirty years or 
more, that we neither tolerated polygamy nor 
slavery; and now we do both. It only shows what 
territorial greed will do for a nation. 

The commander of the expedition was Colonel 
Albert Sidney Johnston. Colonel Johnston was 
one of the best known and most competent men 
of our army. Born in Kentucky, I believe, he had 
fought for liberty in the Texan army against 
Mexico, had risen to distinction in the army of the 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 25 

little republic, and gained additional laurels in our 
war with Mexico. He was a man of akind heart and 
noble bearing; very dignified, without being at all 
austere ; winning in his ways, and loved by all who 
came in contact with him. At the outbreak of our 
Civil War, it is said by those who knew him best, 
that his sympathy was actually with the national 
government. His Southern birth and relations 
caused the Federal government to treat him with 
suspicion and coolness. It was more than his sen- 
sitive nature could stand; so he resigned his com- 
mand, settled his accounts with our government, 
and went over to the South. He was killed at the 
battle of Shiloh, April, 1862, and in his death the 
South lost one of her ablest commanders. 

The second in command was Colonel Alexan- 
der, who, during the Civil War, was the chief of 
General Lee's staff. Another prominent officer 
was Major VanDorn, who was afterward a distin- 
guished general in the Confederate army, and was 
assassinated by a grieved husband in Mississippi. 
Another was Captain Hancock, our quarter- 
master, afterward so distinguished in the Union 
army as commander of the Second Army Corps, and 
one of the most celebrated generals of our army. 
He was the Democratic candidate for president in 
1880, and came near beating Garfield for that high 
position. Others were Fitz John Porter, after- 
ward a distinguished commander of the Fifth Army 



26 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

Corps; Captain J. B. Magruder, afterward a dis- 
tinguished Confederate commander ; and Major 
Beauregard, the great Southern general. 

How often I have seen these men eating 
together at the same mess! Yet only a brief 
period of four years passes away, and we see them 
leading brigades, divisions, corps, and armies 
against each other in the mightiest conflict the 
world has ever seen. 

An incident occurred a few days before our 
march from Fort Leavenworth, that was very amus- 
ing, especially as I look back upon it now. One 
day I was acting as orderly for Captain Hancock, 
our quarter-master, when Major Beauregard came 
to Hancock and said he had received some books 
from France, recently, on engineering, and they 
were very valuable volumes ; and asked if he could 
have permission to take them along on the train. 
Hancock asked him how many books he had. 

" Oh, " he said, ''quite a box of them. I sup- 
pose they would weigh a hundred pounds, box and 
all. " 

Hancock replied, saying that he would be 
glad to accommodate him, but the order was 
imperative not to take anything along, except that 
which was absolutely essential for the welfare of 
the expedition. 

So the major went away in disappointment. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 27 

Shortly after this, Major VanDorn came over 
to the headquarters and said that he had a barrel 
of peach brandy that he had received a few days 
before from Kentucky ; he said it was the finest 
stuff he ever tasted in that line ; he didn't want 
to sell that which had been given to him, and 
asked if he could have the privilege of taking it 
along on the train; 

Hancock said : " Certainly, certainly, any- 
thing of that kind, now ; but Beauregard 
was here a few minutes ago, and wanted me 
to permit him to take along a whole library of 
books, and I refused him. Why, those books 
would be just as heavy when we get to Salt Lake 
City ; but I think that barrel will be a great deal 
lighter, don't you ?" 

That admitted of no discussion at all : the barrel 
was taken, and I am very sure that it began to 
lighten from the first hour — certainly from the 
first day ; for a few days after our march began, I 
saw the barrel cast aside on the prairie. 

We left Fort Leavenworth on the 26th of June, 
on a beautiful, bright, hot day of summer. As we 
marched out from the fort, and I watched our lit- 
tle army starting on that celebrated expedition, I 
thought what a magnificent array it was. What a 
fine army ! It numbered twenty-nine hundred 
men all told — infantry, artillery, cavalry and engi- 
neers ; just about the size of a good brigade of our 



28 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

army during the Civil War. In our march of the 
first fifty miles westward, we passed little villages 
and cabins ; but after that, in a few days, we 
found ourselves out on the great American desert. 
How splendid was the scenery! We soon began 
to encounter little herds of deer, and then 
the buffaloes. 

Coming down through western Kansas a few 
months ago, passing through her fine towns and 
cities, with their colleges, universities, electric 
lights and electric trains, and looking out on their 
splendid farms, I remembered that in my day I had 
seen those plains covered with herds of deer and 
elks and immense numbers of buffaloes, and thought 
how wonderful was the advance of our American 
civilization. 

The story of that celebrated march has passed 
into history : its hardships, its sufferings are well 
known to the reader of American history, and I 
will not undertake to tell it. It would make a 
volume larger than this which I intend to write. 

When we reached the Green River, we were met 
by a deputation of Mormons from Brigham Young, 
who was still governor of Utah, saying that he 
regarded our advance to Utah as an act of hostil- 
ity, and that he should resist it : but as it was too 
late for us to return that fall, we could remain 
there, and he would furnish us with rations which 
would be reasonable in price ; but he would 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 29 

expect us early, in the next spring to return from 
whence we came. But we continued to advance. 

A few weeks after this, Brigham Young, in 
addressing his people, told them not to be fright- 
ened, as our army would never reach Salt Lake 
City; for some night while we slumbered, the 
angel of death would visit us, and we would wake 
up in the morning and find ourselves dead; or 
words to that effect. 

But the angel of death didn't visit us ; at least, 
not all of us. That winter, while we lay at Fort 
Bridger, a negotiation was held between the Mor- 
mons, represented by Judge Kain of Philadelphia, 
and the government authorities, and a peace of 
some kind was effected ; so that in the following 
spring, when we took up our line of march again, 
we were not opposed anywhere, and the first of 
June we arrived in Salt Lake City. 

Salt Lake City of that day was not the Salt 
Lake City of to-day. It was a city, then, of about 
seven or eight thousand, I should judge ; ragged 
and uneven in appearance, yet everything was 
neat and tidy. But nearly all of the inhabitants 
had fled upon our approach ; indeed, I do not 
think there were a hundred people left. The 
Mormon people at that day, the same as to-day, 
were composed almost entirely of foreigners ; 
people from nearly all the nations of Europe, 
except Poland. 



30 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

They had been told of the bad character of our 
army ; hence, they fled upon our approach. 

But a few days after, the commander of the 
army issued a proclamation assuring them that we 
had come in the name of law and government, and 
they would not be molested as long as they were 
obedient to law, and inviting them to return. In 
a few days they came back to their homes and 
farms, and everything was going on as usual. A 
proclamation was issued by the new governor, 
inviting all persons who were tired of their polyg- 
amous life, or any other person, to enter our lines, 
and they would be protected, and returned to their 
homes if they so desired. But nobody came, and 
the Mormons at that time impressed us as being 
a very prosperous, contented, and industrious, but 
very fanatical people. 

I think but once during our stay did they have 
any reason to complain of the conduct of any of 
our officers or men. Some months after our 
arrival, we were paid off for eight months service ;" 
and that afternoon, after payment, most all of the 
boys, except those on duty, got permission to go 
into the city. We were camped out where Fort 
Douglas is now, about four miles from Salt Lake. 
While down in the city one of the boys got pretty 
boozy, and meeting a Mormon woman on the 
street, suddenly became very affectionate, threw 
his arms about her and gave her a good hugging 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 31 

and kissing. I am sure he must have been very 
boozy, for no man, unless he were in such a 
state, would have hugged and kissed such an ugly 
woman. But, unfortunately, she turned out to be 
one of the wives of Heber Kimball, who was second 
in authority in the Mormon Church. He was in 
great anger, and demanded to see the com- 
mander at once. Captain J. B. Magruder was 
officer of the day, and pretty drunk, as most every 
one else was, except myself and the men on guard. 

I entered the tent of Captain Magruder and 
found him sitting on a camp stool, with his feet 
thrown on another, leaning up against the wall of 
the tent, and about three sheets in the wind. I 
said, " Captain Magruder, there is a Mormon 
official of some kind, who wishes to see you 
at once." 

He said, '* All right, go out and trot him in." 

I did so, and followed along behind to overhear 
what was said. 

As he entered the tent, Captain Magruder 
did not rise to his feet to receive him, for the very 
best of reasons. He simply raised his head and 
said, " Who are you?" 

Heber Kimball straightened himself up and 
said, "I am Apostle Kimball." 

Magruder said, " What in the devil are you an 
apostle of?" 

He said, "The Latter-day Saints." 



32 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

Magruder said, "Latter-day devils!" 

In great anger, Kimball at once withdrew from 
the tent. 

The next morning Magruder said to me, 
•' What did I say to that Mormon yesterday ?" 

I told him. 

He laughed and said: ''I was pretty drunk ; 
however, I was very correct in my statement." 

But shortly after this, when Kimball came to 
the camp again, he found Magruder sober. Cap- 
tain Magruder at once became very much enraged 
at the insult that had been offered the woman, 
and told the apostle to go and bring his wife, 
and if she could identify the man who assailed 
her, he should be punished to their complete 
satisfaction. 

At once great excitement prevailed in our 
little garrison : the offender was known to us at 
once, and every one of us determined to shield 
him. So when Kimball returned with his wife, we 
were ordered to fall in double rank. We had told 
the guilty man to fall in the front rank, about mid- 
way in the rank, as that is always the best place 
for a man to be who is looked for. 

Captain Magruder, Heber Kimball and wife 
started down the line, the woman apparently 
scanning carefully each face as she passed. I 
expected that the nervousness of the guilty man 
would betray him, and felt very much relieved 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 33 

when he was passed. They now began marching 
along the rear rank. Our lines were resting right 
off the officers' quarters, when our chaplain — an 
Episcopal clergyman, a very dignified man^very 
unfortunately stepped outside of his tent. 

The moment the woman's eyes rested on him 
she became excited, and, pointing her finger at him, 
said: "There is the man; he is the one that 
did it." 

We were all paralyzed with astonishment for a 
moment — men and officers. Then we all burst 
out laughing. But you ought to have seen the 
poor chaplain. He stood there like a statue. 

After a while the commanding officer tried to 
control himself, and shouted, *' Order in the 
ranks. " 

The men drew up and tried to contain them- 
selves, and then burst out again. Again and 
again we laughed and laughed ; and when order 
was at last restored, the chaplain stepped forward 
and proved by all present that he had not been to 
town for more than a week. She now wished 
another trial to pick out the offender, but, of course, 
that was denied her. So Kimball and she returned 
to the city very much outraged, and I suppose 
always believed that they had been very unfairly 
dealt with. 

But the poor chaplain never recovered from it. 
The officers continually chaffed him about it; and 



34 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

the men, when he was anywhere about, pretending- 
that they did not know of his presence, would fall 
to discussing the question of his guilt or innocence. 
Finally, the one who was defending him would 
always give in and say : "I guess you are right. 
I guess he must have done it ; but I wouldn't have 
thought it. " Some weeks afterward he received 
a furlough, and we never saw him again, and I 
suppose he never ceased to regret the mistake the 
woman made in identifying him as her assailant. 

A few weeks after this we were ordered to New 
Mexico, as the Apache .Indians were threatening 
trouble again. On our arrival at Fort Union, we 
were assured that everything was quiet and 
no trouble was apprehended. But a few morn- 
ings after our arrival we had unmistakable evidence 
of their hostility, by discovering that one of our 
sergeants had been horribly tortured and murdered 
within a mile of camp. We were at once assembled 
and put upon our guard. As we were but a small 
band, we could easily be surprised and massacred. 

There was a still smaller garrison twenty miles 
away, and the commander desired to communicate 
with them at once. But alas ! our force was too 
small to send a detachment, and so we were 
assembled and asked who would volunteer to carry 
a communication to the other fort. No one 
seemed to be anxious to undertake it except a 
young musician, who was then about sixteen years 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 35 

old, and he was permitted to go. Probably 
that which he thought least of during the entire 
journey was Indians. 

Arriving at his destination, he delivered the 
papers; and when he started to return, was 
informed that a young lady would be placed under 
his protection, to be conducted to Fort Union. He 
rather demurred to this. He had never had much 
acquaintance with the fair sex, and was more afraid 
of them than he was of the Apache Indians. She 
was a beautiful Spanish girl, the only daughter of 
our army contractor, who had requested that she 
should be sent back to Fort Union the first oppor- 
tunity. When she came out upon her horse, her 
dazzling beauty and electrifying smiles quite cap- 
tivated the young bugler, and put him at his ease. 
Neither one of them could talk very good English, 
but they made that up in other respects. By the 
time they arrived at the fort, they had gotten on 
excellent terms with each other. He asked per- 
mission to visit her, which was readily granted. 

She had no mother. The house where she 
lived was about one hundred rods from the fort, 
entirely surrounded by a shrubbery peculiar to 
that country. He went often to see his young 
lady friend, and everything went lovely until the 
old man got home. He knew soldiers and had a 
poor opinion of them; and he had reasons, too, for 
disliking them. One day the old man ordered the 



36 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

bugler off the premises and threatened him, if 
he ever caught him around there again, that he 
would make it warm for him. 

Then the young man arose in his wrath, and 
with all the dignity of a man of sixteen, said: "As 
you are the father of the young woman whom I 
love, I will spare you ; but were it not for her, you 
would soon be sleeping with your fathers." 

This did not seem to disturb the old Spaniard 
any, and I think he slept well that night; but the 
young musician didn't. The old saying is that 
" Love laughs at at the lock and key," and very 
soon the young lady, with a pair of scissors, had 
cut a hole through the shrubbery sufficiently large 
for the young man to creep through; and whenever 
the coast was clear a white handkerchief would be 
displayed, and then the young man would start out 
to see his girl. 

Everything went lovely for some time; but one 
day, right amidst a very interesting visit, the young 
lady gave a scream and started for the house. 
The young man saw the old Spaniard bearing 
down upon him with a big, bright knife glittering 
in his hand. His first impulse was to stand and 
fight; but as he had nothing to fight with, he 
thought discretion was the better part of valor, so 
he started for the hole in the wall, the old man 
hard after him. The young man got to the hole 
first, and was about half through when the old 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 37 

gent got there. In justice to the old man, Til say 
he did not attempt to impede the exit of the boy ; 
indeed, he assisted him very materially in getting 
through f but the young man never thanked him 
for the help he received, for it put him in such a 
condition, that he was only fit to serve on a stand- 
ing committee for some days thereafter. 

Shortly afterward we were ordered to Cali- 
fornia. A year later, when we were ordered back 
to Fort Fillmore, the young man was now a year 
older, and declared he was going to assert his 
rights, and we expected there would be bloodshed. 
But when we arrived at Fort Fillmore, we found 
all cause for this had been removed, as both the 
father and daughter were dead : they had been 
killed by the Apache Indians a few months 
before. I am very sure that the young man 
mourned for weeks — yes, for months and years — 
for the beautiful girl whom he really loved ; but 
as for the old man, I am sure he never wore crape 
for him. 



38 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 



CHAPTER IV. 

Second enlistment — Ordered to Fort Leavenworth — News of 
Lincoln's election — Ordered East with Lieutenant Armistead on recruit- 
ing service — Brooklyn, New York — Dr. Van Dyke's great sermon in 
defense of slavery — Hear Henry Ward Beecher reply — Hear Wendell 
Phillips on John Brown's death — Ordered to Washington — Closing 
scenes in American Congress before Lincoln's inauguration — Inaugu- 
ration of Mr. Lincoln — Beginning of the Civil War. 

On the 26th of April, 1860, I entered upon my 
second enlistment in the United States army. I 
was given a furlough of thirty days, but got tired 
of it at the end of two weeks and returned to duty. 

My company was then ordered to Fort Leaven- 
worth, where we arrived on the 11th of November. 
The next day came the news of Mr. Lincoln's elec- 
tion to the presidency. Mr. Lincoln had been 
elected more than a week before, but it had required 
all that time for the news to reach the Missouri 
River. At this period there were no railroads nor 
telegraphs to speak of west of the Mississippi, and 
none at all west of the Missouri. I shall never for- 
get the sensation that Mr. Lincoln's election crea- 
ted. Not more than one or two at the fort sym- 
pathized with his political views. I had never 
before heard politics discussed in the army ; but 
now the discussion became fierce between those 
who were in favor of sustaining the national 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 39 

government and those who were defending South 
Carolina for taking steps to secede from the Union. 

Right amidst the discussion, orders came for 
Lieutenant Armistead to go East and recruit 
our battery up to its full complement of one hun- 
dred and fifty-three men. Our battery had been 
converted into a fine artillery. Our first point was 
Brooklyn^ New York. We arrived there the 1st of 
December. 

The next day was Sunday. I accompanied 
my lieutenant that Sunday to church. It was the 
first time I had ever been in a Protestant church. 
It was a Presbyterian church; Dr. Van Dyke was 
the pastor. He preached a sort of thanksgiving 
sermon that day in defense of slavery. His text 
was taken from Jeremiah 1:14, from these words: 
*' Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon 
the inhabitants of the land. " His church was one 
of the richest and most fashionable in Brooklyn, 
and Dr. Van Dyke was a very learned and eloquent 
speaker. He boldly defended slavery, denounced 
abolitionism, and declared that slavery was a moral, 
social and political blessing, and a divine Insti- 
tution ; and he said every word spoken against 
slavery was a sin, and a reflection on God's holy 
word and his divine religion. 

I shall never forget this, my first Thanksgiving 
time in America. Indeed, I can say that the first 
public Thanksgiving I ever knew anything about 



40 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

was in New York, in 1860. Thanksgiving day, 
then, was quite different from what it is now. Now, 
the same day is observed by common consent 
throughout the entire Republic, in every State and 
Territory, North and South. Then, Thanksgiving 
day was not observed in any of the States in the 
South, and only in those States in the North where 
the people, to more or less extent, were of New 
England or Puritan origin. Therefore, Thanks- 
giving was held all along from the first of Novem- 
ber to the middle of December. In New York it 
was customary for the mayor of New York city to 
appoint a Thanksgiving day, usually fixing the 
same day that had been selected by the governor. 

On this occasion I refer to in 1860, Fernando 
Wood, the distinguished Democratic leader of 
those days, was the mayor of New York city. 
In his proclamation he rather impiously said, that 
in obedience to the usual custom, he would desig- 
nate a day for Thanksgiving and praise for those 
who thought they had any special reasons for feel- 
ing thankful to God for the situation that confronted 
them. With an abolitionist elected President and 
the party of disunion triumphant, and with a civil 
war impending, he thought it called for a day of 
fasting and humiliation instead of Thanksgiving. 

The Sunday before that Thanksgiving, as I 
have said, Dr. Van Dyke had preached his cele- 
brated sermon in defense of human slavery. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 41 

The Sunday following I heard Henry Ward 
Beecher preach for the first time. Mr. Beecher 
at that time was in his zenith of power and fame. 
While his sermon was not intended to be a reply to 
Dr. Van Dyke's, yet it was practically a reply to 
that divine, and also a reply to Mayor Wood's 
Thanksgiving proclamation. After enumerating 
many reasons we had for thanksgiving to God for 
his blessings, Mr. Beecher, with his fist clinched, 
reached the climax of his great sermon by rushing 
to the side of his platform with eyes that blazed like 
meteors, as he shouted in clarion tones that seemed 
almost to shake the great building : 

" Another reason, and the best of all, we have 
to thank God that freedom has at last won a vic- 
tory at the ballot box, and upon the 4th day of 
next March our government, for the first time, will 
be administered in the interest of human liberty 
instead of human slavery." 

When the great preacher had thus spoken, the 
vast audience was silent for almost half a minute, 
and then the people broke out in most rapturous 
applause, that shook the immense church from 
pillar to rafter. It was a scene I can never forget. 

When I went to New York, I had supposed that 
Abraham Lincoln was an abolitionist, and also the 
party which had elected him, as I had always heard 
that party and Mr. Lincoln spoken of as being 
abolitionists. But a day or two after my arrival in 



42 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

New York, I read in the New York Times an 
editorial denouncing abolitionists, and yet I found 
the same paper was a Republican paper. It puz- 
zled me : I could not understand it. 

At my boarding-house I had become acquainted 
with a very intelligent gentleman, whom I knew to 
be a very strong Republican. I asked him to 
explain the matter to me. He was very much 
amused at my verdancy in political matters. He 
assured me that the Republican party was not an 
abolition party ; and while he had always voted the 
Republican ticket, yet he had no sympathy at all 
with the abolitionists. He said he would regard 
it as the greatest calamity in the world — the abol- 
ishment of slavery. He said the Republican party 
only proposed to keep slavery out of the territo- 
ries, and thus keep free labor from being contami- 
nated and degraded: at the same time, he admit- 
ted that, now that Kansas had been admitted into 
the Union, there was no territory where slavery 
was likely to go anyhow. I was beginning, now, 
to get an idea of American politics. He said 
there were a few abolitionists in the country, like 
Wendell Phillips, William Lloyd Garrison, Stephen 
Foster, and Parker Pillsbury ; but they were per- 
sons of no influence at all, and scarcely amounted 
to a cipher. 

A few nights after this, I went over to New 
York, accompanied by a friend of mine, to attend 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 43 

an anniversary of John Brown's death. When we 
arrived at the hall where the meeting was to be 
held, we found it surrounded by a mob. It was 
not by any means an ideal mob; the men were 
dressed in their broad-cloth, and their looks indi- 
cated that they belonged to what we call the 
"upper class." The mob was being kept out of 
the hall by the police. As I and my friend were 
dressed in United States uniform, they permitted 
us to pass in. 

In a hall that would hold perhaps fifteen hun- 
dred people, we found about one hundred and 
twenty-five, who were quietly sitting there. 
Shortly after we had taken our seats, the curtain 
rose, and out walked Wendell Phillips and several 
other distinguished abolitionists. As soon as he 
came out upon the platform, the rioters, who had 
now gained access to the hall, began their dis- 
turbances in the corridors and galleries. Mr. 
Phillips was now introduced to the audience. I 
remember my disappointment in some respects. 
I expected to see a stout, red-faced, vehement 
orator ; but instead there stood before me a man' 
about forty or forty-five years of age — as hand- 
some a man, I think, as I ever saw. He was per- 
haps six feet high, with a refined, scholarly face, 
and a Roman nose. 

He stood for a moment with his hand upon the 
desk, and attempted to begin his speech by say- 



44 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

ing, " Gentlemen." But that moment the crowd 
began their noise ; shrieking, stamping, singing 
and braying. The police contented themselves 
with preventing the mob from entering the par- 
quet, where those who wished to hear were seated. 
For more than an hour Mr. Phillips battled with 
the mob ; but he reserved his force, while they 
were exhausting theirs. After awhile his splendid 
voice rose above the din of the noise, and after a 
time the mob became silent : he had conquered 
them. And then for more than an hour he was 
the master. He poured upon the friends of slavery 
his scorn, his invectives and sarcasm. It was 
grape and canister, solid shot and shell, and Greek 
fire — all combined. He glorified John Brown as the 
greatest martyr of his age ; no words that he could 
use in his eulogy were rich enough ; and he 
declared prophetically that his death had begun a 
struggle that would not end until slavery was 
ended. 

I met Mr. Phillips years afterward in Bloom- 
ington, Illinois, where he was to give a lecture in 
the regular course. The lecture was on Saturday 
night. He was to stay in Bloomington over 
Sunday. The lodge of Good Templars in that 
city, of which I was a member, appointed a com- 
mittee to wait upon him to ask him to speak upon 
the temperance question. Two of the committee 
were Democrats, and very much prejudiced 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 45 

against him. But he received us very graciously, 
readily consenting to speak gratuitously, only 
making this condition : that no announcement 
should be made until Sunday, as it might be a 
detriment to the lecture committee. As we were 
about to retire, he asked us to remain longer; he 
said he was always glad to meet young men who 
were interested in a reform of any kind. I had 
become the spokesman of the committee. I told 
him I had heard him in New York at the time of 
the John Brown meeting. 

He said, "I remember you well; as you were 
dressed in United States uniform, you attracted 
my attention." 

His conversation was so charming, that when 
we retired, he had captured us all, and especially 
the two young Democrats who were so bitterly 
opposed to him. On the following night he deliv- 
ered an address on temperance to a crowded house, 
and delighted all. 

Mr. Phillips, unquestionably, was the greatest 
orator America ever produced. He dedicated the 
wonderful powers with which God had endowed 
him to righting wrongs, defending the right ; and 
no just cause, however poor and unpopular, but 
that he advocated, even at the expense of his 
financial interests and social standing. He was 
against slavery ; was for woman suffrage, even 
when it was more unpopular than abolition ; he 



46 ' Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

championed the cause of Ireland even more 
eloquently than Daniel O'Connell himself; he 
opposed capital punishment, and demanded its 
abolishment ; he pleaded for prison reforms ; he 
pleaded for the abolishment of imprisonment for 
debt ; he pleaded for monetary reform ; his patri- 
otism was broader than his own country ; he might 
well say, as another great American said, "The 
world is my country, and to do good my religion." 
Although he, for so many years, was regarded 
as the South's great foe, yet at the close of the 
rebellion, while he favored the reconstruction 
measures and insisted upon negro enfranchise- 
ment in the South, — in which I think he erred, — 
nevertheless, he opposed everything like vindic- 
tive punishment of the Southern people ; and of all 
the reformers of this century, Wendell Phillips was 
the greatest Roman of them all. 

We were now ordered to Washington. Rumors 
of trouble to occur in Washington on the occasion 
of Mr. Lincoln's inauguration had induced Gen- 
eral Scott to call to Washington all the regular 
troops that could possibly be obtained ; and, as we 
had secured our full complement of men, we were 
ordered to report in Washington on the morning 
of March the 1st. 

We found the Capitol city full of excitement. 
The members of the outgoing administration were 
leaving the city, and the Southern families were 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 47 

also going, so as to avoid being present at the 
inauguration. 

I had never been in Washington before, and as 
it is the capital of the country, I was all alert to 
see and hear everything that I could. I was at 
that time nineteen years old, just at the age when 
young men or boys like to see everything and 
learn everything. The first thing of all I wished 
to see was Congress ; and by the kindness of the 
commanding officer of my battery, I was permitted 
to go up to the Capitol building every day. The 
first place I went to visit was the Senate of the 
United States. 

The Vice-President at that time was John C. 
Breckinridge. His appearance attracted me at 
once. He was the ideal Southerner in appearance ; 
the very personification of grace and ease. At that 
time he was not quite forty years of age. He had 
come from one of the most celebrated families in the 
United States ; his ancestors had all been distin- 
guished from the earliest days of the Republic. His 
father had been a Senator and in the cabinet of 
President Jefferson. He himself had served in 
Mexico as a major, winning a fine reputation. He 
had redeemed the Ashland district — Henry Clay's 
old district — from the Whigs, and made for himself 
such a reputation that he had been nominated for 
Vice-President on the same ticket with Mr. Buch- 
anan, when he had barely arrived at the constitu- 



48 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

tional age of thirty-five; and he gained fame rapidly 
while Vice-President, and was nominated by the 
Southern wing of the Democratic party for the 
presidency, in 1860. He had stood second to Mr. 
Lincoln in the electoral college ; he had already 
been elected United States Senator from Kentucky 
for six years, and was sworn in as United States 
Senator the day Mr. Lincoln was inaugurated. He 
returned to Washington and took part in the extra 
session of Congress, and made a very bold and able 
speech in defense of the Confederate cause; resigned 
his seat, entered the Confederate army as a major- 
general, and finally was made Secretary of War by 
President Davis. At the close of the rebellion he 
succeeded in making his escape. After a year or 
two abroad, he returned to the United States, 
dying at Lexington, Kentucky, in 1874. It was 
said that his death was hastened by that which 
has hastened the death of so many other brilliant 
men — strong drink. 

The great debate in Congress during those last 
days of that session was on the adoption of what 
was known as the Crittenden Peace Compromise. 
It was advocated by Crittenden of Kentucky, 
Douglas of IlHnois, Johnson of Tennessee, Corwin 
of Pennsylvania, Dixon of Connecticut, Green of 
Missouri. It was opposed by Trumbull of Illinois, 
Hale of New Hampshire, Chandler of Michigan. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 49 

It was adopted, but nothing came of it, as the war 
soon broke out. 

It was my good fortune to hear Stephen A. 
Douglas speak. Douglas spoke on the 2nd of 
March and Green on the 3rd of that month. I 
was very much interested in Mr. Douglas, as he 
had been the candidate of the Northern wing of 
his party for the presidency. He was at that time 
forty-seven years old — a very handsome man ; 
rather short of stature, but well proportioned ; had 
a very large head, with a mass of dark brown hair 
inclining to be curly. His voice was sweet, full, 
and clear. He had the attention of the entire 
Senate, and the galleries were filled as full as they 
could be packed. He lived only a few months 
after this, dying the following June. He devoted 
the last months of his life in rallying his country- 
men in defense of the national flag. 

The next day the great Senator from Missouri 
(Green) spoke. As soon as he arose to speak 
the members of the House of Representatives came 
flocking over to the Senate, completely filling the 
chamber. I remember seeing clustered around 
his seat while he was speaking, Senator Douglas, 
Senator Andrew Johnson of Tennessee, Senator 
Seward of New York, Senator Wilson of Massa- 
chusetts, and Wade of Ohio. He was a man of 
marvelous oratorical powers and transcendent abili- 
ties. I shall never forget that great speech; it 



50 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

was thrilling in the extreme. That closed the 
great debate upon that question. You might say 
it closed an epoch in our country's history. 

The next day Mr. Lincoln was inaugurated. 
The day dawned bright, clear, and crisp. At noon 
the carriage containing President Buchanan and 
Lincoln drove down to the Capitol building. I saw 
then, for the first time, the President of the United 
States and the President-elect. One could not 
imagine greater contrast than those two men pre- 
sented. Mr. Buchanan at- that time was some- 
thing over seventy years of age, tall and handsome 
in appearance. His career had been a successful 
one : he had been a member of both branches of 
the State legislature; he had been a member of 
the lower house of Congress for several terms ; 
three times he had been elected United States 
Senator from Pennsylvania; minister to Russia 
under President Jackson ; Secretary of State under 
President Polk ; minister to England under Presi- 
dent Pierce; four years President of the United 
States; — It seems that all of his ambitions had 
been satisfied. He was closing his administration 
in the tumult of secession and revolution. He has 
been very much censured, yet 1 am satisfied, when 
everything is considered, — his age, his environ- 
ments, — that future historians will say he did 
the best that he could. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 51 

Mr. Lincoln, as I saw him that March morning 
for the first time, seemed tall, awkward, and 
shambling in his appearance, his face plain to 
ugliness; yet, while he was speaking, delivering 
his inaugural, there seemed to be some sort of a 
transformation. He 'appeared so sincere, so true, 
so honest and sensible, that from that moment I 
had a faith in him which never wavered. 

My battery was lying out near Brightwood. I 
used to go into the city almost every day. Hardly 
anybody thought there would be war. Though 
another government had been organized and 
foreign ministers appointed, still people thought 
it would blow over without bloodshed. It all 
seems so strange to us now — almost incredible. 
But one morning news was brought to the camp 
that startled us all — Fort Sumter, in Charleston 
Harbor, had been fired upon. The next day 
came news of its surrender; and at last it burst 
upon our minds that war — grim war — was upon us, 
and, worst of all, civil war! 



52 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 



CHAPTER V. 

Washington after the surrender of Fort Sumter — Manifestation 
everywhere of Southern sympathy — Entrance of Northern troops-— 
Change of public sentiment — Gathering "of the Union army — Organiz- 
ing the ■■ army — Marching into Virginia — Battle of Bull Run — Our 
defeat— Retreat to Washington— Demoralization of the army and people. 

That night, after the news of the surrender of 
Fort Sumter, there was a consultation in the quar- 
ters of Captain Magruder, and the next morning 
three of our officers went into the city and placed 
their resignations in the hands of the Secretary of 
War, and we saw them no more. Public senti- 
ment in Washington seemed to be all one way. I 
heard everywhere expressions of sympathy for the 
Southern Confederacy, and even cheers for 
Jefferson Davis and the Southern cause. 

My captain came to me the morning he 
went into the city, and urged me to go with him 
and join the Southern cause. He complimented 
me by telling me that I was a thorough soldier 
and could command his batteries as well as he or 
anybody, and that he would guarantee me a com- 
mission at once ; but I reminded him that I could 
not resign ; that I was an enlisted man and was 
bound to the general government for four years 
more. 

He said, "Oh, the government be d !" 

that it had all " gone to h ,"and the Southern 



Life of Colonel John Sobleski. 53 

army would be in Washington before two weeks. 
I told him I did not know anything about 
the merits of the question which brought about 
secession and war ; but the way I looked upon the 
matter, my duty was plain : that I had come to 
this country an exile, without home or country ; 
the United States had given me both, and I should 
be'forever true to the government of my adoption: 
wherever the fiag went, I should go ; and if it went 
down in defeat and disaster, I would go with 
it. He then sadly bade me good-bye, and said 
he appreciated my scruples and feeling of grati- 
tude, mistaken as he believed I was. 

Captain Magruder was a good man, warm- 
hearted and generous, thoroughly devoted to his 
native State, Virginia. For six years he had been 
almost a father to me, and it made me sad to leave 
him. The last time I met him was in 1870 — 
a broken man in every way. When I told him 
I had come two hundred miles out of my way 
to see him, he thanked me warmly for the esteem 
which I still held for him. We talked over old 
times together. He mentioned the incident I 
have just given : I was in hopes he had forgotten 
it. He told me that I had acted the wiser part, 
though he said he had acted conscientiously in the 
matter at the time. I did not doubt that. He 
lived only a few months after this interview. 



54 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

On the fifth day after the surrender of Fort 
Sumter, if my memory serves me correctly, volun- 
teer troops began to arrive at Washington ; and 
how quick public sentiment began to change. It 
was as sudden as a burst of sunshine after a 
thunder-storm. I shall never forget the day that 
the first Northern regiment arrived. I think it 
was the Sixth New York. Way down Pennsyl- 
vania Avenue we heard a band playing. We soon 
caught the notes: it was the "Star Spangled 
Banner." And then we began to hear the cheer- 
ing of the people. It was a crack New York regi- 
ment, composed of the sons of leading citizens, 
finely dressed, finely equipped, and finely drilled. 
What a splendid appearance they, made ! 

Within the next few weeks at least fifty thous- 
and men came into the District of Columbia ; and 
all, with the exception of a few regiments of State 
militia, were raw men who had come from the 
workshops, the farms, the school-room, the store, 
— indeed, from everywhere ; men of every calling 
and occupation, except the brewer, the distiller, 
the saloon-keeper — I did not hear of their coming ; 
but everybody else came. Splendid material to 
make soldiers of; but they had to be made soldiers 
'' from the ground up," as the saying is. Not one 
in ten thousand had ever seen a soldier ; hardly 
knew a ramrod from a knitting-needle. They 
used to afford us of the regulars a good deal of 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 55 

amusement in witnessing their drill, for the 
officers seemed to be more awkward than the men 
themselves. Among the first things that a soldier 
learns is his facing, and marking time; so you'll 
hear the drill sergeant say, " Right, left ; right, 
left." So we used to say they didn't know their 
right foot from their Jeft, and they'd have to bind 
hay on one foot and straw on the other, and say, 
" Hay-foot, straw-foot ; hay-foot, straw-foot." But 
they had something better than drill, better than 
discipline ; that was their patriotism, their enthusi- 
asm for their cause. They were the nucleus of 
the grandest army that was ever organized or led, 
the Volunteer Army of the Unio7i, 

I remember witnessing an amusing incident 
just before we marched into Virginia. Near where 
we were encamped was a regiment of volunteers. 
I was out one day witnessing a lieutenant drill his 
company. They had gotten sufficiently advanced, 
now, so that they did pretty well. That morning 
there had been a thunder-storm, and there had 
been quite a heavy fall of rain. In the middle of 
the drill ground was a slight depression, and the 
captain had his men going at a double quick ; he 
espied this water, and knew a part of his line 
would pass through it. Military words had not 
become familiar to him yet, so, instead of obliquing 
his men, or halting and right-abouting them ( I 
presume he had been a teamster a few weeks 



56 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

before), he shouted to his men : " Haw ! haw ! 
haw!" It did just as well; the men understood 
it, but it was hardly military. 

A few days afterward we marched Into Vir- 
ginia, and then out toward Manassas or Bull Run. 

I wonder if an army ever went forth to battle 
as that army did. It was composed of forty-five 
thousand men. We thought it was a mighty 
army — and to us it was. It was three times larger 
than any American army that had ever gone forth 
to battle before. Most of them were young men. 
I presume ninety per cent were under twenty-five 
years of age ; full of enthusiasm, life, song, and 
mirth. We expected a little brush with the 
" Johnnie Rebs," as we called them, but we ex- 
pected to easily dispose of them and march 
proudly on. 

But, alas ! how few of us ever entered Rich- 
mond. It was more than twenty years before I 
did ; and when I did enter Richmond, I went there 
as a soldier in another army. I went there fight- 
ing a more destructive foe than the one we 
met at Manassas : I went there as a helper and a 
friend, to save the homes of that beautiful city from 
the devastation of the liquor traffic. 

As the battle of Bull Run Is now a matter of his- 
tory, I shall not take space In this small volume 
to describe It. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 57 

On our retreat the night of the battle, we came 
to a place where the road had become choked up by 
different obstructions, and they were trying to clear 
the way so our artillery could pass, to prevent it 
from falHng into the hands of the enemy. A stray 
private soldier was making his way back to Wash- 
ington. He was the tallest man I ever saw. He 
looked more like a pair of tongs than anything else 
I could think of; he actually looked as though his 
legs began right under his chin. And he was the 
most disgusted looking man I ever met. Throw- 
ing himself down on the earth where several of us 
were lying, in the idiom peculiar to a New Eng- 
lander, he said : "Gol darn it, I won't run another 
step to-day." 

Some one said to him, "You had better run, 
and run now, for the black-horse cavalry will be 
along here in a few minutes." 

He said, "I don't care for the black-horse 
cavalry or any other cavalry ; I would not run 
another step for Jeff Davis and the whole Southern 
Confederacy , " 

A few minutes afterward a shout came up from 
the rear, warning us of the approach of the 
black-horse cavalry, and I tell you there was 
clearing out of that road pretty quick. Our 
Yankee friend rose to his feet with alacrity, 
gave one disgusted look toward the rear, and 
started on a run that would have done credit to a 



5^ Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

jack-rabbit. I do not believe he stopped until he 
arrived at his Green Mountain home. 

The next day at two o'clock we entered Wash- 
ington, and passed through her streets out to our old 
camping ground at Brightwood. Utter demorali- 
zation reigned. No one seemed to have a com- 
mand ; no one seemed to care for command. The 
few regular troops alone kept together, and had 
brought away with them their arms and accouter- 
ments. Washington was full of saloons, and they 
alone seemed to be in high glee and reaping a rich 
harvest. A thousand men could have charged 
across Long Bridge and have captured the city. It 
was the darkest day for our cause during that 
terrible conflict. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 59 



CHAPTER VI. 

Arrival of General McClellan at Washington — Bringing order 
out of chaos — Preparation for the defense of the city — Complete 
defensive works erected about the city — Lincoln calls for live hundred 
thousand men — General McClellan made the commander-in-chief of the 
army — Organization of the Army of the Potomac — Peninsular campaign 
— Our arrival at Fortress Monroe — Battle between the Monitor and 
the Merrimac. 

General McClellan was called to Washington 
and placed in command of Washington city. The 
first thinor he did was to close the saloons of the 
city ; the next was to establish rendezvous for the 
army, sending out patrols to pick up scattered men. 
Then began the preparation to put Washington in 
a defensive condition. Ditches were dug, fortifi- 
cations were erected, and in a short time Washing- 
ton had been made impregnable against any pos- 
sible attack that could at that time have been 
made against it. 

Now, for the first time, Mr. Lincoln began to 
realize that there was really war in the land : not 
a little insurrection that would blow over In ninety 
days, but a mighty and terrible war that would 
tax all the resources of the nation. So he issued 
a call for five hundred thousand men, to serve for 
three years, or until the close of the war. Soon 
these fresh levies began to come into Washington 
by the thousands and tens of thousands. They 



6o Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

were taken in hand and disciplined, and were pre- 
pared for the great work that was before them. 

At this juncture General Scott resigned his 
command and retired. General Scott was one of 
the greatest men our country ever produced. 
Born in the State of Virginia, he began his life as 
a lawyer. At the outbreak of the war with Great 
Britain in 1812, he entered the army, and remained 
in continuous service until November, 1861, a 
period of forty-nine years ; the longest time of any 
great general who has served in our army on the 
active lists before or since. He had won a brilliant 
reputation in the war with Great Britain, and was 
ever known thereafter as the hero of Lundy's Lane. 
Afterward, in service in Florida and on the plains 
he showed his efficiency. At the outbreak of the 
war with Mexico, he was soon placed in command 
of our entire force in that country, and in his 
march from Vera Cruz he showed a genius which 
has never been excelled by any war captain in the 
world. Marching his army for almost a thousand 
miles over blistering plains, fighting a dozen 
battles of more or less magnitude, outnumbered 
three to one in every contest, the foe at times 
commanded by the President of the Republic ot 
Mexico, General Santa Anna, Mexico's most 
renowned soldier, he won every battle, and planted 
the flag over the halls of Montezuma. Though 
his army was composed mostly of volunteers, he 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 6i 

accomplished in less than a year what it took more 
than two years for the French army of more than 
ten times his number — drilled, disciplined troops 
and veterans — to accomplish. 

He was the Whig candidate for President in 
1852, against Franklin Pierce. He was the most 
magnificent looking man I ever saw. Among the 
ancient Greeks and Romans he would have been 
worshiped as a God. He was six feet, seven 
inches high, well proportioned in every way. He 
weighed about two hundred and seventy-five pounds. 
I remember I used to go blocks and blocks out of 
my way to get a chance to see him. A great 
admirer, as I am, of beauty in either man or woman, 
and realizing General Scott's great reputation as a 
soldier, I felt almost like worshiping him. Indeed, 
I think w^e could all say of him, " He was 
Winfield Scott, the magnificent. " He died in the 
summer of 1866, full of honor and of years. 

General George B. McClellan was now placed 
in command. He took this raw material of our 
volunteers, organizing them into armies both East 
and West. Early in the spring of 1862 he was 
relieved of the chief command, that he might 
assume the command of the Army of the Potomac 
in person. 

It had been determined to approach Richmond 
by the way of the peninsula, so we left Washing- 



62 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

ton the 27th of February, arriving at Fortress 
Monroe on the 4th of March. 

The next Sunday after our arrival in Fortress 
Monroe, just after dinner, our attention was called 
to evident excitement at the fort. Looking up 
the road, we saw the occasion of it. Comine down 
from Norfolk we espied three steamers : two of 
them were easily discerned and understood ; the 
third one not easily made out. Her appearance 
was so peculiar; she looked like a half-sunk house. 
The word soon passed around that the strange 
looking craft was a Confederate ram, the Virginia. 

When Norfolk navy-yard was captured by the 
Confederates, there was a partially finished ship 
of war called the Merrimac ; this had been scuttled 
and sunk by our people. The Confederates 
raised her and constructed her into an iron ship. 
Her mail was made of railroad iron; then they added 
to her, to make her more destructive, a tremendous 
battering-ram made of the finest steel, for the 
purpose of crushiag into the sides of ships and 
sinking them. It would seem that the head ones 
of our government knew of her construction, *but it 
was all new to us. 

When she came sailing down from Norfolk, 
escorted by those other steamers, I surveyed her, 
and then looked over to our naval ships, looking 
so majestic and strong, — the Congress, carrying 
thirty-eight guns ; the Cumberland, the same 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 63 

number of guns ; the Minnesota, with forty-eight 
guns. With a joyful heart, I thought how soon our 
noble ships would do them up and send them to 
the bottom of the deep. I changed my mind 
shortly afterward. 

The escort now halted at a safe distance, but 
the Merrimac ( I'll call her the Merrimac, al- 
though the Confederates had re-named her the 
Virginia,) came steaming on, evidently making for 
the Congress, passing the Minnesota on the way. 
The Minnesota fired a broadside at her. The 
great big sixty-four- pound shots struck fairly and 
bounded away, as harmless as though they had 
been peas shot by a pop-gun. When I saw the lit- 
tle effect of those mighty projectiles, I was filled with 
despair. The Merrimac did not deign to answer, 
but steamed down into the channel, passing the 
Congress. This seemed very strange; but it was 
explained afterward that Captain Buchanan, the 
commander of the Merrimac, had a brother aboard 
of the Congress, who was an officer of the ship, 
and he thought, by destroying the Cumberland 
first, that the Congress would then see the futility 
of any further resistance and would surrender; and 
his brother's life would thus be saved, or, at least, 
not endangered. In this it would seem that he 
was mistaken. 

As soon as the Congress had been passed, the 
Merrimac — with her long ram glittering in the sun, 



64 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

ready for its work of destruction, — put on all 
steam, opened the portholes, and ran out the guns, 
making directly for the Cumberland ; all the while 
being stormed at by both the Congress and the 
Cumberland, but with utterly futile results. The 
Cumberland was finally struck amidships, breaking 
into her side a hole that would have sunk her 
in fifteen minutes, anyhow. The Merrimac now 
drew back and let fly a couple of guns that sent 
a pair of tvvo-hundred-pound shots ripping through 
the entire length of the Cumberland. The surren- 
der of the Cumberland was no\y demanded, but the 
answer came back, "We will never surrender ;" and 
neither did they. But, firing their guns to the last, 
and cheering their flag, they kept up until the sea 
settled over them. 

The Merrimac now turned her attention to the 
Congress. The tide was now going out, and they 
could not get close enough to ram, so they stood 
off at arm's length and riddled her through and 
through with their terrific projectiles ; and, as she 
refused to surrender, the Southern vessel then fired 
several red-hot shot, setting her afire. The Mer- 
rimac then returned to Norfolk. 

What a night of despair it was ! We antici- 
pated everything disastrous for the next day. We 
hated to see the dawn of another mornino-. And, 
what added to our sorrow, the splendid ship, the 
Minnesota, in attempting that night to leave the 




MISS MARY SOBIESKI. 



MRS. SOBIESKI. THE DEAD SON, 

LAST OF THE SOBIESKI ROYAL LINE. 



Colonel Sobieski's Family, 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 65 

Roads, had run aground and could not be gotten of^. 

Next morning early, at high tide, the Merrimac 
and her escort returned to complete the work of 
destruction. But she did not know the new foe she 
had to grapple with ; neither -did we know of it. 
Down she came steaming in all of her gloomy ugli- 
ness, making for the Minnesota, which was lying 
hopelessly aground. All at once, from out be- 
hind the Minnesota, there appeared a new craft, 
more ludicrous in appearance, if possible, than 
the Merrimac had, been the day before; looking 
just as some Southern writer said, "like a raft with 
a cheese-box on top of it." She steamed out spite- 
fully to meet her antagonist, and they came together. 
Now began for the first time in the world's his- 
tory a contest between two ships of iron, and for 
three hours and fifteen minutes those ships of war 
fought each other. 

During the contest we became so excited and 
carried away, that we forgot all about them 
being simply ships of war, and in our imagination 
they became mighty combatants ; instead of being 
men-of-war, they became gods. We would shout 
and cheer whenever we thought our champion had 
made a point. At one time we thought the battle 
was lost, for all at once the Monitor ceased firing ; 
she seemed to be drifting, and we thought she had 
become hopelessly disabled. It seemed that a 
'shot from the Merrimac had struck the pilot-house 



66 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

of the Monitor right at the point, or aperture, 
rather, where inside Captain Worden was con- 
ducting the battle. The shot striking so close to 
his eyes, caused a concussion, paralyzing the 
optic nerve and making him temporarily blind. It 
was while the change was going on in the com- 
mand, that the ship seemed to be drifting ; but she 
soon came into battle again as gallantly as ever, 
amid the shouting and cheering of the forty thous- 
and men who were watching from the shore. 
After a while the Merrimac drew out of the con- 
test and steamed aimlessly around : evidently a 
council of war was being held. All at once she 
put on all the steam she had and made for her little 
antagonist, striking the Monitor with such force 
as to cause the Merrimac to careen on one side, 
exposing herelf below her iron mail. Quick as a 
flash the Monitor let go one of her two-hundred- 
pound shots. It went tearing through the entire 
length of the Merrimac, killing fourteen men, 
wounding twenty-e,ight others, — among them Cap- 
tain Buchanan, — and put the ship in a sinking 
condition. She now steamed out of action and sig- 
naled for her escorts, who tugged the sinking ship 
back to Norfolk. 

And when we saw the battle was over and 
practically a victory had been won, our joy knew 
no bounds. We shouted and cheered, cried and 
laughed; some men fell down on their knees and 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 67 

thanked God for the victory ; others hugged their 
comrades ; others cursed and swore ; just as they 
felt, so did they express themselves. Our joy 
was unconfined : we had no drill nor parade that 
day. It was a day of joy that I shall never forget. 
That battle revolutionized the navies of the 
world. Lord John Russell, Minister of Marines at 
that time, said in the British House of Lords the 
next day : "Yesterday, we boasted that our navy 
was the greatest in the world ; to-day, we have to 
realize that we have no navy at all." 



68 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 



CHAPTER VII. 

Capture of Norfolk — Destruction of the Merrimac — Siege of York- 
town — Battle of Williamsburg — Our sojourn in the Chickahominy 
swamps — Battle of Fair Oaks — Seven days' battle in front of Richmond 
— Our retreat to Harrison's Landing, 

A few days after this we captured Norfolk, and 
one result of that battle was the destruction of the 
Merrimac. The Confederates blew it up to pre- 
vent it from falling into our hands. 

When we captured Norfolk, we captured about 
a thousand Confederate prisoners. Norfolk had 
been a celebrated slave mart before the war, so 
for a temporary prison the Confederates were put 
into these slave pens. An old colored woman, 
when she saw the pens which she had so often 
seen filled with her own race, now filled with their 
masters, it was too much for her, and she turned 
herself into a regular Methodist camp-meeting, and 
began to shout, "The Lord is slow, but he is 
mighty sure." Doubtless she had been praying 
for her freedom for many years, and now, when she 
saw the dawn of the day of freedom appearing, she 
had unconsciously given expression to the saying 
of the ancients: "The mills of the gods grind 
slowly, but they grind exceeding small." 

We now marched on to Yorktown, where we 
besieged that place. But when the Confederates 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. . 69 

saw that their works were becoming untenable, 
they evacuated; and we followed them to where 
we fought the battle of Williamsburg, where 
General Hancock won his spurs, and his title as 
" Hancock, the superb." 

I remember the morning of the battle, when we 
were pressing our way on to Williamsburg. It had 
been raining for two or three days, and the roads 
had become exceedingly heavy. An ammunition 
wagon had stalled, and the driver had been beating 
and pounding, the horses doing the best they 
could. Finally, in his anger, the man jumped off 
the horse and threw a rock at its head. Hancock 
was right behind the man, who did not know it. 
Hancock immediately jumped off his horse, and 
seizing a rock, hurled it at the man. It hit him 
right between the shoulders. 

The man cried, "Oh!" and Hancock said: 
"Yes, damn you, that's what that horse would have 
said, if it could have spoken." 

I was never cruel in my nature, and I do not 
know that I ever mistreated a dumb animal ; but I 
never have occasion to deal with a dumb brute but 
the words of General Hancock come to my mind : 
I wonder what this animal would say, if it could 
speak. It is a matter of a good deal of consola- 
tion to me to believe that no dumb brute will rise 
up in judgment against me. I killed a little bird 
once, but that is the extent of my "cussedness." 



70 . Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

After the battle of Williamsburg, we marched 
on toward Richmond. Now every inch of soil 
that we trod upon was historic ground. We 
passed William and Mary College, where the 
great Jefferson graduated, with other distinguished 
Virginians; and the white house where Washing- 
ton courted and married the beautiful widow^ Mrs. 
Custis. Both of those historic landmarks fell a 
victim to the torch — a wicked and uncalled-for act. 

There are always men who, unrestrained, 
delight in destruction ; there are no rights of 
their fellow men that they will respect ; with them 
there is nothing sacred ; they are really barbari- 
ans — as much so as the Apache Indians; the 
only civilization that they have is a very slight 
veneering ; they are men who are never brave in 
battle, who are always hanging around the out- 
skirts of an army, their object being to plunder, to 
murder, and to destroy. As war itself is a species 
of barbarism, I presume that this class will always 
curse civilized armies. 

May 31st and June 1st, 1862, we fought the 
battle of Fair Oaks. The first day of the battle^ 
owing to a heavy rain, all of our pontoon bridges 
crossing the Chickahominy had been swept away, 
except one made of wild grape-vines. The Con- 
federates took advantage of this and attacked our 
army in force; that is, the portion of it that had 
crossed the river before the flood, and they had to 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 71 

stand the brunt of the battle the first day : but dur- 
ing the night the rest of our army succeeded in 
crossing the river. So on Sunday morning, June 1st, 
our army attacked the Confederates fiercely, and 
the battle raged all that day until two o'clock in 
the afternoon, when the Confederates gave way all 
along the line and retreated in confusion to their 
old position. 

The most important result of this battle was 
the severe wounding of General Joseph E. John- 
ston, the Confederate commander, when General 
Robert E. Lee assumed the command. There he 
began his great career as commander of the army 
in northern Virginia, a career which placed his 
name among the world's great soldiers, and 
endeared him forever in the hearts of all Southern 
people. 

General McClellan has been censured a good 
deal for not continuing the battle, driving the 
Confederates out of their position, and capturing 
Richmond. He may have erred in this, and he 
may not. Repelling an attack of an army and driv- 
ing it back is quite a different thing from driv- 
ing an army out of a fortified position and captur- 
ing a city fortified and defended as that city was, 
I am satisfied that General McClellan acted wisely 
in the matter. 

We had now pushed the Confederates to the 
very outskirts of the city: we could see the 



72 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

steeples of the churches and hear the church bells. 
But just at this juncture General Lee succeeded 
in forming a junction with Stonewall Jackson. 
Stonewall Jackson had succeeded in utterly de- 
feating Generals McDowell, Fremont, and Banks; 
and we found ourselves attacked not only by Lee's 
army, but by Stonewall Jackson's also. Now 
followed six days of terrific fighting, which, for a 
succession of battles, the world has never seen 
equaled, and in which more than fifty thousand 
men were either killed or wounded. 

The last of that series of battles was fought at 
Malvern Hill, and this was the climax. McClellan 
had formed his army in such a way that his fiank 
was protected by the great gunboats lying in the 
York River. Early in the afternoon General Lee 
attacked our forces fiercely. My old captain, now 
General Magruder, finding out where his old bat- 
tery lay, determined to capture it at every hazard. 
We hurled them back four times. Once a hand- 
to-hand contest took place right over our guns ; 
but we drove them back, and his splendid division 
was nearly annihilated. He was afterwards put 
under arrest by General Lee for recklessness in 
the matter. Just after dusk the Confederates 
gave way at all points. General Lee losing more 
than ten thousand men in this battle. That night 
we resumed our march to Harrison's Landing, 
where we arrived early in the morning. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 73 

To show how the bravest of armies will now 
and then have a coward, I will tell this story. 

At the battle of Malvern Hill General Lee met 
a great tall Johnnie in full retreat, blubbering like 
a whipped boy. The general halted him, saying : 
"Halt here ! what regiment do you belong to ? " 

"Tenth Virginia, boohoo ! boohoo ! " 

The general said, "Go back to your regiment, 
and stand your ground and fight like a man." 

He said, "Oh, no. General ! I'm a coward ; I 
told them I was when they drafted me, boohoo ! 
boohoo! " 

The general said, "Why, nonsense! Virginians 
are never cowards ; and if I was, I wouldn't be a 
great boo-baby. " 

"I wish I was a baby, and a gal baby at that, 
boohoo! boohoo!" was the reply of the poor 
fellow. 



74 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

The army at Harrison's Landing — Our corps ordered to reenforce 
Pope — Defeat — McClellan again in command — 5larch into Maryland — 
Battle of South Mountain — Battle of Antietam — McClellan removed — 
Burnside in command — Battle of Fredericksburg. 

I shall never forget the morning we arrived at 
Harrison's Landing. It was raining hard, as it had 
been for several hours. It was a regular Virginia 
downpour. We had had six days of constant fight- 
ing. My corps, the Fifth Army Corps, commanded 
by Fitz John Porter, had borne the brunt of the 
fight, as we were the rear guard and were fighting 
by day and marching by night. A dozen hours 
would safely cover all the sleep I had for the six 
days. So, when I had hitched my horse to the 
picket rope, I took off the saddle and lay down 
on the ground. I laid my head on the saddle, 
and slept until late in the afternoon. I remember 
when I woke up, the rain had just begun to sub- 
side a bit. The spot where I lay was on the side 
of a little hill, so the water ran away as fast as it 
fell. When I arose and looked at myself, I could 
hardly recognize myself; the rain had washed, or 
bleached out, my dirty uniform, so it looked bright 
and new. Our rations had not yet come up, so I 
strolled out into a field where I found an apple 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 75 

tree full of half-grown apples, and I think I ate a 
peck. I will not vouch for this statement, but it 
was astonishing how many I ate of them. My 
comrades wouldn't touch them, as hungry as they 
were, and they tried to make me believe that I 
wouldn't live more than an hour and a half; but 
they agreed with me perfectly — I felt as gay as a 
lark. I remember my sergeant said that a Polander 
might eat them and digest them all right, but it 
would raise hell with any human being. 

VYe remained at Harrison's Landing about a 
month, or a little more, when our corps was ordered 
to Washington, and then out to reenforce General 
Pope, who had practically superseded General 
McClellan. 

In the last days of August we fought the battles 
of Manassas and Chantilly, and were again de- 
feated. We lost several very valuable officers in 
these battles ; among them was Colonel Fletcher 
Webster, the only surviving son of Daniel Webster, 
the great statesman ; Colonel Isaac Stevens, of 
Oregon, formerly governor of that Territory; but 
our greatest and saddest loss among the officers 
was the gallant General Philip Kearney. 

General Kearney was a native of New Jersey, I 
believe. At West Point he was a classmate of Gen- 
eral Robert E. Lee. He had won a splendid rep- 
utation in the Mexican War, where he lost an arm. 
When he returned from Mexico, he retired from 



76 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

the United States army. He fought in the 
Italian army against Austria, and maintained his 
splendid reputation as a soldier; and such was his 
record there, he was given a badge of the Legion 
of Honor for his services in Algiers. At the out- 
break of our Civil War he returned to the United 
States, tendered his services to our government, 
and in the Peninsular Campaign was the inspiration 
of the army. He was a perfect stranger to fear. 
The night of the battle at Chantilly, without any 
guard, he rode out to inspect the enemy's lines, 
and ran into them ; they called upon him to halt ; 
he wheeled his horse and attempted to escape ; the 
Confederates fired upon him, and he fell dead from 
his horse. General Lee was not far away ; they 
reported to him that a Federal officer of distinction 
had been killed. General Lee and his staff went 
over to where the body lay. Lee at once recognized 
his old classmate, and ordered the soldiers to take 
him to his quarters; a guard was at once posted 
over the remains, and the next morning the body 
was sent into our lines under a flag of truce. 

While I was lecturing in England some years 
ago, I read a statement made by an English officer 
who was serving on General Lee's staff, in regard 
to the death of General Kearney. He said that 
when Lee and his staff went out to ascertain who 
the fallen general was, as soon as Lee saw him he 
recognized him. He said for the first time he saw 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 77 

General Lee show indications of emotion. He 
turned at once to the party who had done the firing 
and said: "Boys, do you know whom you have 
killed ? You have killed one of the bravest 
soldiers that ever drew a sword: you have killed 
General Kearney." General Leeordered a stretcher 
to be brought and the remains of General Kearney 
placed upon it, and ordered that the remains 
should be carried to headquarters. General Lee 
and his staff dismounted, and, uncovering their 
heads, formed a procession and followed the remains 
to the headquarters. Thus it is that the brave 
always honor the brave. 

We now retreated to Washington, and Pope 
was superseded in command and ordered to report 
to St. Paul, Minnesota, to take charge of the 
campaign against the Indians on the frontier. 

General Pope was an able soldier, but he was 
entirely lacking in what is known as tact. When 
he was called from the West to the East and 
placed in commandof the Army ofthe Shenandoah, 
the good record he had made in the West had pre- 
ceded him, and he was well thought of by all of 
the men and, I think, most of the officers. But in 
two weeks' time, by his unwise utterances, he suc- 
ceeded in making himself thoroughly disliked by 
all. He began by making reflections on the Army 
of the Potomac, sneering at his officers, reflecting 
on the men. In the first general order he issued 



78 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

to the army, he began by saying: "I have come 
from the West, where we have been accustomed 
to look at the backs of the enemy;" and numerous 
other unwise sayings made him thoroughly 
detested : yet I believe the army did their duty 
fully and faithfully under him, as they loved their 
cause, if they did not their general. 

McClellan was now again placed in command 
of the defenses of Washington, which really meant 
the command of the Army of the Potomac ; and 
the news of his reinstatement was hailed with 
enthusiasm by the men. 

General Lee had already crossed over into 
Maryland, and was rapidly approaching Washing- 
ton. General McClellan at once put his army in 
motion, and we marched out of Washington to 
meet Lee. We met his advance guard at New 
Market, drove it back, reached the city of Frederick 
on the 12th of September, and everywhere our 
army was received with enthusiasm by the people, 
which much surprised us. 

On Sunday, the 14th, we fought the battle of 
South Mountain", where the Confederates were 
defeated with great loss. 

We rapidly followed them to Antietam. There 
we met General Lee with his entire command. A 
drunken general, in command at Harper's Ferry, 
had, without much resistance, surrendered to Gen- 
eral Stonewall Jackson his entire command of 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 79 

twelve thousand; and thus enabled Stoaewall Jack- 
son to reenforce General Lee at Antietam with 
his entire corps. This made the battle one of the 
most terrific and bloody of the war. The battle 
opened in the morning, and lasted all day and far 
into the night; the loss of the Union and Con- 
federate armies on that day was more than thirty 
thousand. 

The next day was spent in replenishing our 
exhausted ammunition, and making preparation for 
an attack early on the morning of the 19th. But 
during the night General Lee succeeded in making 
his escape. His expedition into Maryland had 
cost him heavily. He expected large reenforce- 
ments to his army from the Southern sympathizers 
in Maryland, but did not receive any. He had lost 
twenty-five thousand men, and had also lost the 
prestige of the victory he had won in the summer. 
His mistake was a heavy blow to the Southern 
cause. 

A few weeks after this, while General McClellan 
was reorganizing his army, refitting it by issuing 
clothing to the men and doing those things neces- 
sary to make an army efficient after such an 
exhausting campaign, he was superseded by 
General Burnside, and ordered to report at Trenton, 
New Jersey, his home. This closed his connection 
with the Army of the Potomac, and, indeed, his 
services in the Civil War. 



So Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

General McClellan was one of the most accom- 
plished officers our army ever had. He had grad- 
uated at West Point at the head of his class, and 
had won a fine reputation in Mexico. When the 
war in the Crimea was going on, he was selected 
by General Scott to visit the seat of the war to 
study the operation of the allies and the Russian 
army, and received a high compliment from General 
Scott for his report. Shortly after, he resigned 
from the army and was made president of the 
Illinois Central Railroad. 

At the outbreak of the war, the governor of 
Ohio made him a major-general of the State militia,, 
and he led them into western Virginia. His 
campaigns there were so brilliant in defeating the 
Confederates, that he was made a major-general 
in the United States army by President Lincoln. 
He was at that time but thirty-five years of age. 
After the battle of Bull Run he was ordered to 
Washington and placed in command. The prompt- 
ness with which he brought order out of chaos 
delighted the country. His great organizing 
powers were so manifest, that when Scott retired 
from the army, he, by general consent, succeeded 
him. But already murmurs had been raised 
against him; there were those who thought he 
ought to inaugurate an active campaign in Virginia 
in the winter, and nothing could he say in defense 
of himself that the country would receive. But 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 8i 

after General Burnside made the experiment, after 
the battle of Fredricksburg, the impracticability 
of such a course was demonstrated. Such is the 
nature of the soil in that country, by reason of 
the almost constant rains, that it would be as 
impossible to carry on a campaign at that time 
of the year as it is in the Philippine Islands 
during the rainy season. Then his Peninsular 
Campaign was severely criticised, and he was 
unfortunate enough to secure the ill will of the 
Secretary of War, who was a very strong and a 
very vindictive man. And at last President Lincoln 
considered it wise, under the circumstances, to 
remove him from command; but his removal almost 
caused a mutiny in the army. No man was ever 
idolized by his army as was General McClellan, 
with the possible exception of Napoleon Bonaparte. 
He was one of those men whose defeat did not 
effect the confidence the men had in him; they 
were ready to do, dare, and die for him. Such was 
the men's love for him, that the government con- 
sidered it wise at the beginning of the battle of 
Gettysburg to let the impression go out that he 
was again in command; and the impression was 
general throughout the entire army during that 
battle, that we were fighting again under the eye 
of "little Mac;" but he was never with us again. 

He was nominated for the presidency by the 
Democratic party in 1864. This was the mistake 



82 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

of his life; and made worse by the platform upon 
which he was placed, known as the " peace plat- 
form," although in his letter of acceptance he 
declared that the war should be prosecuted as long 
as any man disputed the authority of the govern- 
ment. He was overwhelmingly defeated by Presi- 
dent Lincoln in the electoral college, although he 
received a large popular vote. He was afterward 
nominated for minister to England by President 
Johnson, and rejected by the Senate for political 
reasons. He was in 1877 nominated for governor 
of New Jersey by the Democratic party, and elected 
by an overwhelming majority. He made an ex- 
ceedingly popular and able governor. 

The last time that I saw him was at the Palmer 
House in Chicago, in 1885, when I and some other 
old soldiers who had served under him, called 
upon him. He received us very graciously, and 
seemed to be much touched by our kind remem- 
brance and regard. It had been twenty-three 
years since I had seen him, yet he was looking so 
young that we all remarked how lightly the finger 
of time had touched him. The whiteness of his 
mustache alone seemed to show his age. He died 
a few weeks after this of heart trouble, after a few 
hours' sickness. 

General McClellan was in every way a high- 
toned Christian gentleman. His habits and mor- 
als were exceptionable; he was a total abstainer, 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 83 

he neither drank liquor nor used tobacco; he was 
unpretentious in his life and living. He sought to 
make the war as bearable as possible, by respect- 
ing property and families in Virginia. He was 
very much censured for this. There are those 
who believe with General Sheridan, that the most 
humane way is to make war as terrible as 
possible, and thereby shorten it. But General 
McCIellan did not take this view of it, and I am 
satisfied that future generations will decide that 
he was right. Of all the twenty battles that he 
fought, he never clearly lost a battle, although 
none of his victories were decisive. 

General Burnside now assumed the command, 
and was received with great satisfaction by the army. 
Recognizing the fact that he had been given com- 
mand of the army in response to a public demand 
for a battle, regardless of whether he was ready 
or not, he gave battle to General Lee at Freder- 
icksburg; and though our men never fought more 
bravely, yet our defeat was terrible. We lost 
more than twenty thousand men, while the loss 
of the Confederates was very slight in comparison. 

An incident occurred in this battle, showing 
how gallantly the adopted sons of America fight 
for her flag. 

The citadel of the Confederate position at the 
battle of Fredericksburg was Marye's Heights, 
just back of the city of Fredericksburg. This was 



84 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

commanded by more than fifty pieces of artillery. 
I remember reading of the conversation that took 
place between General Lee and General Long- 
street the night before the battle. When Lee 
asked the question if Longstreet had gotten his 
cannon so posted that he could command the 
approach of the hill, he replied that he could comb 
it as with a fine-tooth comb; and we found it 
so, to our terrible sorrow. 

Four times an attempt had been made to cap- 
ture the hill, and we had been beaten back with a 
loss that was appalling. About four o'clock in the 
afternoon of that day. General Thomas Francis 
Meagher, commander of the celebrated Irish bri- 
gade, begged permission to charge it with his bri- 
gade. Dismounting from his horse, sword in hand, 
he led the charge. My battery was on the other 
side of the river, and it seemed to us, from where 
we were posted, that the side of the hill was so 
literally covered with our fallen comrades that it 
would be impossible for a charge to be made with- 
out the men tramping upon their dead and dying 
comrades. The hillside was literally blue with 
their uniforms; yet on went our gallant brigade. 
We watched them with bated breath as they 
advanced. All at once the entire artillery of the 
enemy opened upon them ; but unbroken on they 
went, their brave commander sorely wounded, his 
sword broken by a fragment of a shell, bleeding in 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 85 

half a dozen places, — he still led them on. Already 
two-thirds of the distance had been made, and 
more than two thirds of the brigade was down; but 
still on they marched. The very crest of the hill 
had been reached, and we were shouting : ''He's 
making it! He's making it!" when the enemy's 
infantry, four deep, arose and blazed in their faces ; 
and down went the whole brigade. It seemed to 
us as though every man had been killed; but under 
the darkness of the night a few hundred succeeded 
in making their escape. But the next morning, 
out of the thirty-eight hundred who had made the 
charge, only six hundred and eighteen answered 
the roll-call. The brave general himself was 
wounded in a half dozen places. This shows the 
sacrifices those splendid men made, that the flag 
of their country might wave over a free and united 
people. 

Their brave leader — such was the severity of 
his wounds — was never again permitted to take 
active part in the field. He was at the close of the 
rebellion appointed by President Johnson as gover- 
nor of Montana Territory. He was drowned in 
the Missouri River. When a young man, he had 
joined with others of his countrymen to liberate 
Ireland from the power of Great Britain. Failing 
in the attempt, he was sentenced to death. His 
sentence was commuted to transportation to 
Van Diemen's Land for life. After serving there 



86 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

some years, he made his escape and came to the 
United States. He served as a captain in the 
Sixty-ninth New York at the battle of Bull Run. 
Such was his conduct there, that he was appointed 
brigadier-general by President Lincoln, and signal- 
ized himself for bravery at the battle of Fair Oaks 
and at Gaine's Mill. In addition to his soldierly 
qualities, he was a great orator. 

I was very nearly captured while we were near 
New Baltimore, after the battle of Antietam. I 
took charge of some teams one day, to go out and 
get some forage. Our orders were very strict not 
to enter into any private house, and if any of my 
men did so, or attempted in any way to molest the 
inhabitants, to report them on return to the camp. 
After getting some distance out into the country, 
and being some little distance in the rear of my 
teams, I noticed that they had halted in front of a 
farm-house. I put the spur to my horse, and as I 
approached the house heard the cackling of hens 
and the gobbling of turkeys, and knew some fowl 
(foul) proceedings were going on at the front. I 
rode up to the house just in time to meet the men 
on the way out to their wagons, with their hands 
full of fowls. I halted them and ordered them to 
drop their plunder, and threatened to report them 
on returning to camp. A very handsome lady, 
apparently about thirty-five, who was standing on 
the porch of the house, thanked me for my protec- 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 87 

tion, and calling me captain, asked me how soon it 
would be before I would return. I told her in a 
couple of hours. She said if I would call, she 
would show her appreciation of my services by 
having a good dinner for me. 

On my return she met me at the door, and a 
darky received my horse and led it away. 

As I was entering the hall, she said: " Captain, 
you can lay your belts upon this table, and I'll 
promise you that they shall not be interfered with." 

I hesitated for a moment, questioning in my 
mind the wisdom of the act ; but I took them off 
and threw them on the table. She led the way 
into the parlor, where she introduced me to an 
exceedingly handsome young lady, who was her 
sister. 

She said, "Sister, this is the young captain who 
protected our house this morning." 

The young lady bowed and smiled. I was at 
that time twenty years of age, a very susceptible 
time in one's life, so the smile was more than I 
could stand, and I was gone in a minute. 

She said, "Yes, sister told me about the event 
of this morning, and that shows that all the chiv- 
alry is not on our side." 

The lady of the house said: " Now, I will hurry 
up my servants with the dinner, and my sister 
will entertain you;" which she did charmingly. 



88 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

Soon dinner was announced, and when I 
entered the dining room, I saw there were several 
extra plates. I was assigned to a place at the table, 
and while waiting for the ladies to be seated, a 
door opened to my right, and in walked two Con- 
federate officers, a captain and a major. They 
were introduced to me as Captain and Major 
Grayson. They extended their hands, and I shook 
hands with them and said I was glad to meet them. 
I reckon I never told a bigger lie. 

The lady of the house said: "Now, I will put 
the major on the right of our friend, and the cap- 
tain on the left. There, you don't know how nice 
you warriors look." 

I thought I might look nice, but I didn't feel 
that way. It was some minutes before I dared 
look in the face of my hostess. I cannot describe 
my feelings in those minutes, though I tried to 
conceal them. I thought, after I had protected 
her house, she had laid a trap to take me prisoner. 
I was afraid, if I looked at her, I would say some- 
thing that wasn't nice; so I waited until my emo- 
tions were conquered, and everything went as 
pleasantly as though we were old friends. 

After dinner we went into the parlor. All 
around the parlor walls there were pictures of 
distinguished Virginians: Washington, Jefferson, 
Madison, Monroe, Tyler, Marshall, Zachary 
Taylor, and others. I thought all this time that 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 89 

I was a prisoner, though not the slightest refer- 
ence had been made to the subject, or to my 
peculiar position. As we walked around the room 
we talked about the great men whose pictures we 
looked upon, and they complimented me that one 
so young as I was, and a foreigner, too, should be 
so well acquainted with the lives of these great 
men. Soon the ladies came in and we got to talk- 
ing about my native country. As I told them of 
the struggle of our country for liberty and the part 
my family had taken in the struggle, and as I de- 
scribed the Russian prison, the death of my father, 
the banishment of my mother and myself, I saw 
the tears standing in the eyes of the two fair 
Virginians. 

I now told my hostess that I must go. They 
all begged of me to remain longer, as they had 
enjoyed my visit so well ; but I assured them that 
I must go. I thought they were going to say that 
they would keep me anyway; but soon my 
horse was announced, and we proceeded out into 
the hallway, followed by the ladies. The gentle- 
men assisted me in adjusting my belts, and when 
we arrived at the porch the little darky stood 
ready with my horse. When tlie bridle was placed 
in my hands, I turned around and confronted them 
for the first time. Up to this time not a single 
word had been said in regard to our peculiar 
relations. 



9© Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

As I extended my hand, both of the gentlemen 
stepped forward to receive it. The major said he 
was glad to have met me, and hoped to meet me 
again under more favorable circumstances. And 
the captain said, ''And above all, we hope you 
may go through the rest of the war unscathed." 

I thanked them for their kind wishes, tipped 
my hat to the ladies, mounted my horse, and was 
gone. My relief was great when I found that I 
was a free man. 

Still, I have often since pondered upon my 
strange adventure that afternoon. I have rather 
concluded that the major was the lady's husband, 
that the captain was his brother, of course, and 
that they had come there that day after we had 
left, and the lady had told them of the events of 
the morning, and, under the circumstances, they 
could not avail themselves of their opportunity for 
my capture. I wonder if they did go through the 
rest of the storm of war unscathed! I hope they 
did; and I have often hoped since then, that if 
they did come through alive, that I might meet 
one or both and have a talk with them over the 
events of that afternoon. I have given up that 
hope now, but trust in the great Beyond we shall 
meet and have a talk and laugh over the peculiar 
dinner on that November day, when we met 
together, and, forgetting the bitter passions of 
war, passed the hour so pleasantly. 



Life of Colonel Johh Sobieski. 91 



CHAPTER IX. 

March again — Stuck in the mud — General Burnside superseded by- 
General Hooker — Reorganization of the army — Advance again on the 
foe — Battle of Chancellorsville — Charge of the Eighth Pennsylvania — 
Our defeat — Discouragement. 

After a few weeks of rest, General Burnside, 
heeding the demand of the press of the country, ad- 
vanced again on the foe. We went just far enough 
to get submerged in the mud so deep that it took 
us six weeks to get out. 

General Burnside was now removed, and Gen- 
eral Hooker appointed in his place. 

General Burnside resumed the command of the 
Ninth Army Corps, and reported to General Grant 
for service in the West. He took part in the 
siege of Vicksburg. In the campaign of 1864 he 
returned to Virginia again with his corps, and took 
part in the siege of Petersburg. At the close of 
the war he took up his residence in Rhode Island, 
was elected governor of the State two or three 
times, was twice elected United States Senator, 
and finally died of apoplexy. General Burnside 
was one of the most refined, cultured. Christian 
men that ever served in the army. He was an 
ideal man in his character: he made a good soldier 
and an enlightened statesman. Peace to his ashes. 



92 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

General Hooker went to work with all of the 
wonderful vigor of his nature to reorganize the 
army and perfect its machinery; and completed his 
work to the last detail. His great reputation as a 
fighter pleased the army and the nation; and the 
campaign of 1863 was looked forward to with the 
greatest hope, by army and nation. So, when we 
opened the campaign on the 27th of April with 
one hundred and fifty-eight thousand men in the 
ranks, the Army of the Potomac was never before 
or afterward in such a fine, hopeful and spirited 
condition. 

But an incident occurred the first day of our 
activity that I shall never forget. General Hooker, 
with his staff, was standing close to our battery. 
He was sitting on his magnificent charger, when 
an orderly came up and announced the successful 
crossing of the river by General French. As 
Hooker read the despatch, he almost jumped from 
his saddle. 

"Good!" exclaimed he, "I have got them 
where I defy God Almighty to help them." 

In three short days the enemy was triumphant; 
and our army, defeated and broken, with a loss of 
nearly twenty-five thousand men, retreated again 
across the Rappahannock to the old camps. 
General Hooker was a good fighter but a poor 
commander of an army : everything went wrong 
from the beginning. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 93" 

I can never forget that fatal day when General 
Howard permitted himself to be surprised. Gen- 
eral Howard had been apprised in the morning by 
General Hooker to look out for his rear, but in 
some way had neglected doing so. While some of 
his men were preparing their suppers, and others 
were writing letters to their loved ones, that 
leopard of the Southern army. General Stonewall 
Jackson, was creeping up into their rear, getting 
ready to make his last and awful spring, which should 
cause the defeat of our army, and his own death. 
Without a note of warning he sprang out on 
Howard's men. The men were shot down before 
they could get to their guns or rifles. Panic now 
seized the men and spread from regiment to regi- 
ment, brigade to brigade, division to division, un- 
til the whole corps was involved. Down they 
came pell-mell, like a seething ocean or river. 

That day we were with General Pleasanton. 
He intuitively, as soon as he heard the tumult, 
seemed to understand it. Already the fragments 
of the dispersed corps were upon us : we could 
hear the shouting of the exultant foe. General 
Pleasanton seemed to be helpless. There were 
two field batteries, but it would take time to get 
them in line. There was a splendid regiment of 
cavalry that had just come in from a scout. 

General Pleasanton turned to them and said: 
" Major Keenan, are you willing to sacrifice your- 
self and regiment to save the army?" 



94 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

He answered, "I am willing to obey orders." 

"Charge the enemy at once, "ordered General 
Pleasanton. 

Major Keenan coolly turned to his regiment 
and ordered the men to mount. 

As they passed my battery I knew I was look- 
ing upon a regiment of men that were going out to 
die. They were splendid looking men from west- 
ern Pennsylvania. They drew their hats down 
close around their heads, settled themselves in 
their saddles, grasped their carbines with a firmer 
grasp, and started out on a trot toward the enemy. 
Just at a place where a point of woods pointed 
down into the clear field, they sounded the bugle 
for a charge ; and eight hundred men threw them- 
selves into the face of twenty thousand. 

Stonewall Jackson, never dreaming that he was 
being charged by a single regiment unsupported, 
gave orders for his corps to halt and reline. It 
took twenty minutes to do this ; but before that 
time we had our batteries in position, and were 
giving them shot at the rate of one hundred a 
minute. We were now reenforced by General 
Sickles, and the fierce, triumphant onset was stayed, 
and the army saved ; and the gallant Eighth 
Pennsylvania Cavalry had done it. It was a 
grander charge than that of the "Light Brigade," 
for that charge was a blunder ; but this a case 
where a regiment deliberately sacrificed itself to 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 95 

save the army. Oh, that we had a Tennyson to 
immortalize these splendid heroes! 

Thirty hours after this we were back across the 
river again, with a loss of tweny-five thousand of 
our comrades, defeated and discouraged. We had 
started out with great hope and expectation ; but 
all our hopes were blasted, and we were eating the 
bitter fruits of defeat. 



g6 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 



CHAPTER X. 

The death of Stonewall Jackson, and its effect on the Confederate 
army — Lee's march into the North — We follow him — Arrival on the 
field of Gettysburg — The battle — Thrilling description of Pickett's 
charge — Wounded — A faithful comrade — Taken to the hospital for the 
mortally wounded, near Hagerstown — Taken to the hospital at Wash- 
ington — Rapid recovery — Rejoin my company — Ordered before Casey's 
examining board — Commissioned colonel of a colored regiment — My 
declination — Rejoin my company — Crossing of the Rapidan — Retreat 
— Winter quarters. 

The loss of the Confederates In killed and 
wounded at the battle of Chancellorsville was 
nearly as large as ours, and the loss on both sides 
was nearly forty thousand ; but the greatest loss 
that the Confederates sustained was the death of 
their celebrated leader, General Stonewall Jackson. 

In my opinion, take it all in all, he was the 
greatest soldier developed by the South during the 
Civil War. He was a most remarkable character. 
Coming from very humble origin, an orphan boy, 
he succeeded, partially by his own endeavors, and 
with the help of some friends, in being appointed 
a cadet to West Point. He chiefly distinguished 
himself in school by studious habits. If he did not 
graduate at the head of his class, he came near 
doing so. I think the same year he graduated he 
went to Mexico ; and in that array of wonderful, 
bright young men from West Point, he stood in 
the very foremost rank. He returned home a 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 97 

major by brevet. He afterward resigned from the 
army, and became an instructor at Washington 
College, Lexington, Virginia. 

At the outbreak of the Civil War, it was said 
he hesitated long before he decided to cast his 
fortune with the Southern Confederacy; but, 
believing that his duty to his State was imperative, 
he offered his services to the State of Virginia. 

At the battle of Bull Run he commanded a 
brigade. During the battle General Beauregard 
saw his brigade was about to be fiercely attacked. 
He asked Jackson if his brigade would stand. 
*' Ves, like a stone wall,'' was the reply. 

The only time he was defeated was at the 
battle of Winchester, when he was defeated by 
General Shields. But a few weeks afterward he 
fought and beat in detail Generals Banks and 
Shields, and succeeded in joining Lee before 
Richmond, where he hurled his invincible divisions 
against McClellan's army with such fierceness that 
he compelled us to raise the siege. It was his 
coming so suddenly and unexpectedly on the field 
of the second Bull Run battle, and striking such a 
terrific blow, that fairly paralyzed Pope, and made 
the defeat of his army complete and overwhelming. 
When Lee crossed the Potomac in 1862, it devolved 
upon General Jackson to go by way of Harper's 
Ferry and capture our army there. This he 
executed to the letter ; and rejoining Lee the night 



98 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

before the battle of Antietam, saved Lee's army 
from being crushed in that battle. And when 
everything was going well with us in the battle of 
Chancellorsville, it was Jackson who succeeded in 
getting into Howard's rear and leaping like a leop- 
ard from the jungle upon the Eleventh Corps, 
sweeping everything before him, and making the 
defeat of our army complete. 

Just after dark that night, as he was riding 
along his lines, he received a shot that completely 
shattered his arm. It was from the effect of this 
wound that he died. 

General Lee, in writing to President Davis, 
speaking of Jackson's death, said: "I have lost 
my right arm. " He had lost more; for the Army 
of Northern Virginia never won a decided victory 
after his death. He was so deeply religious in his 
character, that one is reminded of the days of 
Cromwell. He was the Bayard of the Southern 
army ; without blemish or reproach. 

As soon as the armies had rested, preparation 
was begun for another campaign, when General 
Hooker received information that General Lee had 
started northward. He at once put his army in 
motion to follow him. During the march General 
Hooker retired from the command of the army, 
and was succeeded by General Meade. 

The appointment of General Hooker to the 
command of the Army of the Potomac proved to be 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 99 

most unfortunate. While he was a brave, splendid 
fighter, yet he lacked the coolness of a great com- 
mander. He could not work a great army. At 
the battle of Chancellorsville he never got more 
than one-half of his splendid army into battle, and 
some of them got in on their own hook. He was 
hot-headed, impetuous, and passionate ; and what 
made matters still worse, he loved whiskey. 

After he left the Army of the Potomac, in the 
fall of 1863, the Eleventh and Twelfth Army 
Corps were consolidated, forming the Twentieth 
Army Corps. > With it he went to reenforce Gen- 
eral Grant at the battle of Chattanooga, or Look- 
out Mountain, where he did some splendid fighting 
But during the campaign of Atlanta he got dis- 
pleased at something, and asked to be relieved. 
He died in Cincinnati some years afterward, from 
paralysis. 

General George G. Meade, who succeeded him, 
was a fine soldier. He came out in command of 
the Pennsylvania Reserves. As a brigade com- 
mander, as a division commander, and as corps 
commander, he had been eminently successful. 
A better selection could not have been made. 
Taking command of the army while it was on 
the march, he had many things to contend with ; 
but he brought it upon the field of Gettysburg, 
notwithstanding the hot and dusty march, in fine 
shape. We arrived on the field of Gettysburg 



loo Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

about three o'clock in the afternoon. We had a 
brisk engagement with the enemy as soon as we 
arrived, and were compelled to retreat through the 
suburbs of Gettysburg. 

A lieutenant of my battery, Lieutenant Wills, 
was mortally wounded. My captain ordered me 
to take charge of him, and see that no harm befell 
him. I took him into a house and laid him upon 
a sofa. There was no one in the house: I think 
they had gone into the country for their health. 
My lieutenant lived but a few minutes. He had 
given me his watch, a picture of his wife, and a 
letter which he had written to her that morning. 
In the letter he had predicted to her his death in 
that battle. 

As I looked out of the window of the house, 
I saw the Confederate soldiers swarming all about 
it. I saw at once that I was in the Southern Con- 
federacy. I put the keepsakes in my pocket, and 
ran down cellar and into a room where the 
farmer kept his milk, cheese, butter, and such. 
The cellar was dimly lighted from the west. 

The little village of Gettysburg was largely 
what is called an agricultural town, that is, many 
of the farmers lived in it and were cultivating 
farms that were adjacent to it; and^this happened 
to be one of those farm-houses. 

I soon took in the situation, and already hear- 
ing footsteps up-stairs, and knowing the instincts 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. loi 

of a soldier well enough to know they would 
be down-stairs hunting for something to eat, 
I came out of the room, and getting behind the 
stairway, took a seat on a barrel. I wanted 
some of that milk and cheese awfully bad: but 
soon down came the rebel soldiers, and as they 
passed me, I fell into line and went into the little 
room with them, and drank milk and cream out ot 
the same earthen milk-pan with men whom I had 
been fighting half an hour before. 

I remember as I was drinking from the first 
milk-pan, a Confederate soldier who was waiting 
to take his turn at it, became impatient for his 
turn, and said: "Come, chum, hurry up now;" and 
when he saw so little left in the pan as I handed it 
to him, he said: **My God, chum, what a capac- 
ity you have for drink!" 

Then I found some pickles and some ginger- 
bread, and got a big hunk of cheese. I then 
retreated with the boys, but was very careful to 
fall in behind and unobserved take my place again 
on the barrel behind the stairway. A half dozen 
delegations came down in the next two or three 
hours, and each time the same thing was gone 
through with: each time I fell in with them and 
went into the little room, to prevent myself being 
discovered by anyone who was bent on investiga- 
tion. I filled myself chuck full of milk, cream, 
gingerbread, cheese, and pickles, without any 



I02 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

detriment whatsoever to myself. I wish I could 
do that now. Early in the morning the rebels 
were driven back again, and I found my command 
without any difficulty. 

Late in the evening of the 2nd of July, and the 
second day of the battle, I started out with some 
canteens, to fill them with cool water for myself 
and some comrades. A large spring which was on 
the field, was in our hands late in the afternoon; 
but it seemed later that the Confederates had 
expanded themselves and taken it in. I care- 
fully made my way through the dark to the spring. 
I filled my canteens, and noticed quite a number 
of men filling canteens at the same time. All I 
could see of them was the dark outlines of their 
forms. 

When I finished filling my canteens, a man 
at my side said: *'Chum, may I have your dipper 
to fill my canteen?" 

I said yes, and gave it to him ; but that word 
"chum" was a word not in vogue with us, so I 
asked him what command he was in. 

"Why," he said, "Hood's command. Third 
Texas." 

"What command is yours?" said he. 

I had a lie all ready for him ; I told him the 
Fourth North Carolina. Just then he had finished 
his canteens and handed the dipper back to me, 
when another man asked me for the dipper. I let 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 103 

him have it, but I had lost all interest in that 
dipper. However, I succeeded in getting into our 
lines without any trouble. 

The next morning about nine o'clock our' 
battery was ordered to reenforce General Farns- 
worth. We started on our journey. Just at that 
moment I was not dreaming of any danger, but a 
sharpshooter, who was posted somewhere out of 
sight up among the rocks, drew a bead on me and 
let me have it. When I was struck by that bullet 
the sensation was peculiar; it seemed to me as 
though I went right up into the sky about one 
hundred and fifty feet. A spiritualist friend of 
mine said my soul did, but that it came back again. 
Well, I am glad it did change its mind, and not 
leave me on such a slight pretext as that. My 
comrades say I fell like a log. When I came to 
myself my battery had disappeared, but my horse 
had remained with me and was smelling me. The 
first thing that I did was to ascertain what was the 
matter. I rose to a sitting position, when I felt 
the blood trickling down both sides of my body. 
On raising my blouse, I found I had been shot 
through the stomach, the bullet coming out close 
to my back-bone, without in any way injuring it. 
I at once lay down on my side. I thought I 
would live about half an hour. I had seen men 
similarly wounded, and they usually died within an 
hour. 



I04 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

Do you ask what I thought while I lay there? 
Well, not much of anything. I thought what kind* 
of a sensation I would experience in my last 
moments. I was not at all afraid to die. I had 
never in my life consciously done any man a wrong, 
and never desired to harm any one, except in the 
discharge of my duty as a soldier. I had no 
desire to injure anybody, not even the Czar of 
Russia. I at that time took comparatively little 
interest in religion. My early training had been 
that of a Catholic, but I had now ceased to be one. 
I loved God and my fellow men. I believed in 
the Bible; at least what I knew about it. I had 
never read the book at that time, but had read 
Bible stories, which constituted all of my Bible lore. 
I believed in the immortality of the soul and in the 
recognition of our friends hereafter, and did not 
doubt that, in case of my death, I would soon be 
with my father and mother in the happy land. And 
I believed in Christ; so the thought of death did 
not worry me. 

While I was lying there, — perhaps it had been 
twenty minutes from the time I had recovered my 
consciousness, — a young man belonging to the 
ambulance corps came along and asked me about 
my wound. I told him. He told me to lay over 
on my back, and as soon as he could he would 
send a stretcher for me and take me from the 
field. As the day was very hot, I took my hat and 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 105 

shaded my face. All at once a new sensation 
took possession of me : it was like an electric thrill. 
I almost shouted with gladness. I knew I was not 
going to die, but would soon be restored to health. 
A couple of men with a stretcher came then and 
took me off the field. 

Down under the base of a hill was a straw-stack, 
where there was an improvised hospital. As there 
was no fighting going on in that part of the field 
that morning, I was at once waited upon by a 
kindly old doctor, who did not belong to the army, 
and who evidently had come in from the country. 

As he came up to me, he said : "My dear 
young man, do you know the nature of your 
wound? " 

I said, "Yes, sir." 

''Well," he said, "if you have not made your 
peace with your God^ you had better do it at once, 
as you have but a short time to live." 

I told him that God and I were on the best of 
terms, for I had never done any fussing with him. 
He looked upon me compassionately, and told 
them to take me into the shade near by, as the sun 
was very hot. I got along excellently that day, 
suffering only a little feeling of nausea, and that 
was all. 

About one o'clock the terrific artillery battle 
began between the Confederates and our forces. 
Three hundred pieces of artillery were pouring 



io6 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

forth their missiles of death. I had never heard 
anything like it; the earth where I lay shook and 
trembled constantly. After two hours or so it 
ceased, and then after a short interval it reopened 
again. It was our artillery attempting to repel 
Pickett's charge. About half past four they began 
to bring in the wounded. I soon lost all thought 
of myself in the groans and cries of my suffering 
comrades. So many of them were torn by shot 
and shell, and their suffering was awful. 

About six or half past six my comrade found 
me. He was overjoyed when he saw that I was 
alive, but saddened at the nature of my wound. 
I told him I was all right, hadn't suffered a bit, 
wasn't going to suffer, and expected to live at least 
seventy-five years longer. He now went off for a 
doctor, and brought one, who, after examining my 
wounds, asked me how early in the day I had been 
wounded. I told him. He said he was astounded 
to think that I had lived so long, and told me that 
I would not live an hour. My comrade expressed 
some impatience when the doctor told him he could 
do all that could be done for me, and that was to 
keep my wound as cool as possible, and for him to 
get a canteen of cold water and to keep the wound 
constantly wet. He did as directed, and all night 
long he kept up his vigil: trickle, trickle, trickle — 
I can feel the water now, it seems. When morn- 
ing came I was in fine condition. Early in the 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 107 

forenoon I was placed in an ambulance and taken 
out near Hagerstown, where I was put into a big 
barn that had been converted into a temporary 
hospital for the mortally wounded. 

Shortly after my arrival a young man came 
along, asked me my name, my company and age. 
These items he wrote out on a piece of paper, and 
pinned it on my blouse. I told him that was 
unnecessary, as I expected to live many years. 

Right behind him was a Catholic sister, who, 
looking down upon the piece of paj3er on my 
blouse, said to me: " You are a Catholic." 

I said, "No, I am not." 

"You have a Catholic name," she said. 

"Yes," I replied, " I have been a Catholic, but 
I am not one now." 

She asked me what I was. 

I told her I was nothing. 

" Well, my poor, wayward boy," said she, " I 
shall stay by you until it is all over with you." 

"Well," I said, "then you'll have to marry me, 
as I intend to inhabit this planet for some years to 
come." 

She smiled and said nothing, but carefully 
watched over me until I was removed from the 
barn hospital. 

In the course of four or five days all had died 
except about a half dozen, and we were taken to 
Washington to the hospital. The doctors cheered 



io8 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

me up by telling me that I would live only a day 
or two, and wanted to label me again. I refused 
to let them, kept in the best of spirits, laughing 
and joking with my attendants, and in four weeks' 
time I was down on the streets; and in eight weeks 
to a day from the time I was wounded, I reported 
for duty. From the day I was wounded, I kept 
improving every minute. I attribute my wonder- 
ful recovery to the fact that I was a very young 
man, — lacking a few weeks of being twenty-one, 
— possessed of a happy, jovial, hopeful nature, and 
I had lived a good life. I had never drunk liquor, 
or used tobacco — except about half of a cigar, and 
I am sure that I vomited that poison up about as 
soon as it made a lodgment. The doctors told 
me that I must have come of a splendid line of 
ancestry, who had led pure lives, as there was not 
the slightest evidence of any poison in my system. 
I do not know how that may have been, but I got 
well, and was able in two months to eat hardtack, 
corned beef, and "sow-belly," and digest it all 
right and return to my duty. 

A few days after my return to my battery, I 
was ordered to return to Washington and report 
to General Casey's examining board. I passed 
my examination so successfully that it was 
announced to me as soon as I was mustered out ol 
the Second Artillery, that I would receive a commis- 
sion in the regular army. I was at once mustered 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 109 

out of my company, went to Washington, reported 
to headquarters (war-office), where I received a 
commission as colonel in the United States col- 
ored troops. You may be surprised, but I was 
very much disappointed with the outcome of this. 
Had I received the commission of second lieu- 
tenant with white troops, I would have been 
delighted; but with the prejudice I then had, if I 
had received the commission of major-general in 
the colored troops, I would have hesitated. I 
went out to Georgetown and saw the men that I 
was to convert into soldiers — that was enough. 
I went back to the city, returned my commission, 
had the order mustering me out of my com- 
pany rescinded, and returned to my bugle again. 
I have long since come to the conclusion that I 
made a big mistake in that step. The colored 
men made fine soldiers in the war, and have 
since then behaved bravely in our regular army; 
and at the battle of Santiago, Cuba, they proved 
themselves to be the very best. I know a "heap" 
more now than I did in 1863, and so do a great 
many more people that I know of — and I expect to 
learn "right smart" yet. 

Shortly after I returned to my command the 
army made an advance over the Rapidan, in an 
attempt to surprise General Lee ; but owing to the 
blunders of a drunken general, the opportunity 
was lost, and we returned to Culpepper, Virginia, 
for the winter. 



no Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 



CHAPTER XI. 

Reorganization of the Army of the Potomac — Preparation for the 
campaign of 1864— Grant visits us — Opening of the campaign— Battle of 
the Wilderness — Terrible slaughter — Changing of our base to Petersburg 
— Siege of Petersburg begun. 

The Army of the Potomac was again reorganized, 
the First and Third Corps broken up and put into 
other corps. My corps, the Fifth, received a large 
portion of the First Corps. General Meade 
labored all that winter to bring the army to the 
highest state of efficiency for the great campaign 
which we knew was before us. General Grant 
visited us and reviewed us, and it was well under- 
stood that he would be with us to conduct the 
campaign. The record of General Grant had been 
such that he had the confidence of the entire army, 
as well as of the country ; and during all of the 
time that he was with us, it grew instead of dimin- 
ishing. He was cool, wise, and tactful. 

The first of May we opened our campaign in 
the Wilderness with a series of battles lasting 
twelve days, which took the name of "Battle of the 
Wilderness." It should have been called the 
"Battles of the Wilderness." It took the name 
"the Wilderness" from the fact that the country 
over which we struggled was heavily wooded. In 
the twelve days of that struggle the Union army 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. m 

lost seventy thousand men in killed, wounded and 
missing. It was a battle of giants: the strategy of 
Lee was pitted against the strength and courage 
of Grant. Finally, Grant, seeing the futility of 
attempting to force Lee back, changed his base to 
Petersburg. In doing so we fought what was 
known as the celebrated second battle of Cold 
Harbor. It took that name from the fact that a 
battle had been fought on the same ground during 
the Peninsular Campaign of 1862. It proved to be 
the most awful and destructive battle of the war, 
for the time it lasted. In one half hour Grant lost 
sixteen thousand men in killed, wounded and 
missing. Grant always said he made a great 
mistake in fighting that battle, as nothing 
was gained by it except the slaughter of men. 

We now began the siege of Petersburg, which 
lasted from June, 1864, till March, 1865. The coun- 
try would not have permitted so long a siege at the 
beginning of the war, but the people had learned 
something since then; the press of the country 
had learned something; and all had confidence and 
faith in the patriotism and the ability of General 
Grant, and were willing to trust him and to let Grant 
and the President run things, believing all would 
go well. If they had felt so at the beginning of the 
conflict, it would have been better for all concerned. 

During the winter of 1864-65 we saw 
unmistakable evidence of the disintegration of 



112 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

Lee's army ; desertions became very frequent, and 
those who came to us were half starved to death. 
Grant and Sheridan had perfected their plans, and 
were ready, as soon as the roads permitted, to give 
Lee's forces a stunning blow. 

On the 26th of March the campaign opened. 
The battle of Five Forks was fought : then began 
the great struggle that ended in the surrender of 
Lee. Lee was compelled to evacuate Petersburg, 
which uncovered Richmond, and that city at last 
fell. Lee started up the valley, evidently to try to 
reach Lynchburg. The enthusiasm of our army 
on this march was boundless. The officers could 
hardly get their men to rest. They had got Lee 
on the run at last, and were determined to keep 
him moving. When he reached Appomattox he 
found Sheridan in front of him — that ended the 
matter. I shall never forget the enthusiasm when 
we learned that the two great generals, Grant and 
Lee, had met under a flag of truce and were nego- 
tiating for a surrender. Then came the news of 
the agreement of the surrender of Lee. Our divi- 
sion was appointed to receive the surrender. 
General Grant gave strict orders that there should 
be no cheering or exultation at the surrender. 
"For," said he, "remember that they are no 
longer our enemies, but our countrymen. " There 
was no disposition for exultation. We had fought 
these men for four years ; we had tested their man- 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 113 

hood upon forty fields of battle ; we knew that they 
were sincere in their convictions that their cause 
was right. So the least thought of our hearts was 
the spirit of exultation. On that lovely morning 
of April, twenty-eight thousand starved, ragged, 
and destitute men marched out and stacked their 
arms and broke ranks, and the war was practically 
over. 

We divided our rations with them; you would 
never have imagined that we had been foes. We 
freely mingled with each other; there was no dis- 
cord. 

After a few weeks my battery was ordered to 
Washington. I was not mustered out of the service 
until the 26th of June. I desired very much to 
take part in the great, grand last review in Wash- 
ington. The Army of the Potomac was reviewed 
one day, and Sherman's army the next day. I 
remember as we marched down Pennsylvania 
Avenue, the shouting of the mighty hosts of people 
who witnessed our march, and this inscription on a 
banner that stretched across the avenue: "There 
is one debt that the nation can never pay, and that 
is the debt that is due to its soldiers." The next 
day Sherman's army was reviewed. How anxious 
I was to see that mighty army of men and leaders! 
Sherman, Logan, Blair, and others ; and then the 
mighty army itself — men who had marched from 
Atlanta to the sea, then north to Washington: and 



114 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

when I came to witness their parade, I was filled 
with pride for this army. They looked every inch 
the mighty men of war they were. I saw a sight 
those two days that probably will never be 
witnessed in this country again: two hundred 
thousand veteran soldiers, whose average service 
was three years ; who had gone through a war such 
as no other army in the world's history had ever 
seen, and probably will never see again. 

On the 26th of June, 1865, I was mustered out 
of the service. I was at last an American citizen. 
For ten years I had served in the army of my 
adopted country ; I had fought forty-two battles in 
defense of her flag; I had been under fire four 
hundred and twenty-six times ; had never seen a 
sick day, except when I was suffering from the 
wound which 1 received at Gettysburg ; was never 
in the guard house ; never under arrest ; never 
reprimanded but once, and that was under circum- 
stances that brought no discredit upon me ; had 
drunk no liquors of any kind — and to this, more 
than anything else, I attribute my good fortune. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 115 



CHAPTER XII. 

Interest in the struggle for liberty in Mexico —Interview with the 
Mexican minister, Romero — Commission to raise men to go to Mexico — 
Take a vacation for a couple of months — Go to New Orleans — Informed 
by the United States authorities that we will be arrested if we proceed 
to Mexico — Arrested — Discharged on parole of honor — Determined to 
go at every hazard — Finally enter Mexico by way of Sonora. 

I had taken great interest in the contest in 
Mexico, between there pubHc on one side and the 
so-called empire on the other. There was a great 
deal of sympathy throughout the nation for the 
Mexican Republic. 

I do not think it would be out of place here to 
give the causes which led up to the invasion 
of Mexico by France and Spain. The Mexican 
Republic had had a stormy existence. The 
people had suffered so long from Spain, and 
when at last liberated, they did not know much 
about self-government, and had to learn its 
principles. People cannot be taught by books, 
schools, or mere oral instruction, the principles 
of self-government. One might just as well learn 
how to build houses or ships or railroads by 
text-books. They must have actual experience; 
they must use the hammer, the plane, and the 
square; learn by mistakes and blunders. Just so 
with people learning to govern themselves. They 
must learn by experience, and in that way alone 



ii6 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

can they ever learn to govern themselves or their 
fellow men. The Mexican people were going 
through that school of experience, and they did 
learn, so that to-day Mexico is one of the best and 
most wisely governed nations in the world. In 
learning self-government the people found one 
great evil that had to be righted. The people in 
Mexico at that time were Catholics, and, in fact, 
outside of the foreign element in Mexico, to-day 
the people of that country are practically members 
of the Catholic Church. 

The progressive element in 1856 found that 
not less than two-thirds of the real estate belonged 
to the Church; and there were other abuses that 
necessarily arose where all the people belonged 
to one church. Therefore, the Liberal party, under 
the leadership of Juarez, made it an issue at the 
election to remedy these wrongs; and upon that 
issue the Liberal party triumphed, and proceeded to 
confiscate the entire property of the Church, and to 
abolish the monasteries and the convents. This 
was a very extreme measure, but reforms often 
go to extremes. This was the situation, and is the 
situation in Mexico to-day, that the Catholic Church 
can only occupy their church buildings by per- 
mission of the government, and there are no con. 
vents or monasteries. 

Beaten at the polls, the Church party then 
appealed to the sword ; and there, too, they were 
beaten. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 117 

At this juncture the Pope was appealed to, but 
the CathoHc powers were not disposed to interfere. 
Napoleon of France, though nominally a son of 
the Church, was not inclined to interfere until he 
was approached in another way. The next effort 
was made through Eugenie, the empress. The 
Pope then being a temporal prince, had a repre- 
sentative at the French court. He, reaching 
Napoleon through Eugenie, held out the grand idea 
of the establishment of an empire in Mexico as a 
breakwater against the influence of the great 
American Republic; and Napoleon was to have 
the glory of founding a Latin empire in the West. 
Archduke Maximilian, a very devout, pious prince, 
the brother of the emperor of Austria, was to be 
selected as its emperor ; and he in turn was to 
pledge that as soon as the empire was per- 
manently established, he would restore to the 
Church her property and her ancient privileges. 

Some excuse now had to be made for making 
war upon Mexico, and one was found. Mexico 
was owing to the subjects of Isabella in Spain, and 
to Napoleon in France, bonds of the Mexican 
Republic, which had long since become due, and 
of which neither principal nor interest had been 
paid. Therefore, both the French and the Spanish 
governments at once demanded- prompt liquidation 
of the claims. The Mexican government replied 
that it was not within its power to do so at that 



ii8 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

time ; that it had not the money in the treasury, 
neither was it in condition to float a loan. 

War was at once declared against Mexico, and 
France and Spain sent a fleet with an army to 
enforce their demands. They landed at Vera Cruz, 
bombarded and captured that city, and began their 
advance toward the capital. Then and there an 
agreement of some kind was made by the Mexican 
government with the Spanish government, and a 
proposition was made to the French government of 
a similar character, that was eminently fair, and yet 
was rejected by the French government. The 
Spanish government now saw the ambitious 
designs of the French emperor, and withdrew. 

The French pressed on toward the city of 
Mexico, where, after many hard battles, in which the 
French were sometimes defeated, they at last suc- 
ceeded in capturing the city of Mexico, the capital 
of the republic. 

The French general called together an assembly 
of notables, as It was termed, but it was made up 
almost exclusively, if not exclusively, of the Con- 
servative, or Church party. They had their instruc- 
tions, and immediately made known to the French 
government, or emperor, that they desired the 
establishment of an empire, with Archduke 
Maximilian, of Austria, as their emperor. The 
French emperor informed them that he was only 
too delighted to carry out their wishes. Maximilian 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 119 

was communicated with, and he promptly accepted. 
He and his wife, Carlotta, landed at Vera Cruz with 
every demonstration of enthusiasm. It was said 
that their whole journey from Vera Cruz to the city 
of Mexico was one constant ovation, and with 
magnificent display they were installed in the halls 
of the Montezumas. But it was noticed all the 
while that those who joined in the ovations were 
only the French soldiers and the Church party. 

While President Juarez was driven from the 
largest cities, he retired into the mountain 
regions in the interior, and kept up a battle for 
the republic that challenged the admiration of the 
whole world and called forth the sympathy of the 
lovers of liberty everywhere. The empire was at 
once acknowledged by all the nations of the world, 
except the United States. Our government, under 
the leadership of the great and enlightened 
Lincoln, took the position that no nation should be 
governed without the consent of the governed. 
But our nation at that time was engaged in the 
Civil War and could not interfere, though a day of 
reckoning came. Our government all the while 
recognized only the republic, and its minister, 
Romero. This was the situation in June, 1865. 

Having determined that I would go to Mexico, 
I went to General Hancock, told him my desire, 
and asked him if he would not give me a letter of 
introduction to the Mexican minister, Romero. He 



I20 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

said he would do so gladly. Hancock at this time 
was in command at Washington. 

I obtained an interview with Romero. After 
reading my letter of introduction, he received me 
warmly. We had a long talk together; he told 
me that he would give me any kind of commission 
that I wanted, but I was modest and only asked 
for one as a colonel. Romero said that as for pay, 
I would have to take my chances. I told him I 
didn't want any pay; all I wanted was to fight for 
liberty in Mexico. 

I caused to be put in the paper this announce- 
ment: "An excursion to Mexico: all who desire 
to make a visit to Mexico call at the Roanoke 
Hotel, room twenty. No one, except those who 
have served in the Union army for three years, 
need apply." 

In less than ten days I had one hundred men 
and over; good, true men, sober, thoughtful, 
patriotic, who were willing to do and dare. It was 
arranged that we should meet about the middle of 
August in New Orleans. I spent the time mean- 
while in visiting some old army friends in Michigan 
and Illinois, and arrived at New Orleans on the 
14th of August. Some of my men had already 
arrived. Being young men, we talked too much, 
and the government heard of it and Informed me 
that such an expedition would not be allowed. I 
went right on making preparations just the same. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 121 

On the morning of our contemplated departure we 
were all arrested by the order of General Sheridan, 
and .found that we had been arrested under the 
Anti-filibustering Act. But they let us go, on con- 
dition that we would agree not to undertake to 
reach Mexico until we had been discharged from 
our arrest, and that we would report to the provost 
marshal each morning. Thus for three weeks we 
put in our time in that way; putting in the day as 
as pleasantly as possible, and in the evenings 
going over to the French market, drinking their 
fine coffee, and flirting with the pretty black-eyed 
French girls. 

I had sought the counsel of Mr. Rosier, who 
was the leading lawyer of New Orleans. When I 
laid before him our case, h^ said that the law 
against filibustering applied only to those persons 
who were contemplating the invasion of a nation 
with whom this government was at peace, with 
hostile intent, and that in this case our government 
had never recognized in any way the government 
of Maximilian, and that we were going to fight him 
— not to fight the republic, but to defend it ; but 
the great trouble at that time was this: everything 
was in a chaotic condition, the military ruled every- 
thing, and the writ of habeas corpus was suspended. 

It was just while Mr. Rosier was considering 
by what kind of process he could get us into court, 
that General Sheridan arrived at New Orleans and 



122 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

invited us up to headquarters to see him. He 
gave us some good fatherly advice. He told us 
that we had violated no law, but said we must not 
go to Mexico. He said Maximilian could not exist 
one day in Mexico without the French soldiers, 
and that our government had determined that the 
French soldiers must get out of Mexico, and 
had so informed the emperor of France; and 
if the French did not go, that he, Sheridan, 
would be sent over with an army to drive them 
out; and then if we wanted to fight, we could 
fight all we wished to. He said if we would 
give him assurance that we would return to our 
several homes, he would order our discharge. A 
few of us told him we would consider the matter ; 
but we were all discharged the next morning, and 
those who desired to go home, said through their 
spokesman that they felt they ought to take the 
advice of General Sheridan, that their object in 
going to Mexico had not been one of adventure or 
romance, but purely to aid the Mexican Republic 
in the fight for existence, and as that could be 
better accomplished by the power of the United 
States government, and if our going might compli- 
cate the negotiation now going on with the French 
government, they felt it was their duty to return 
home. Ten of us considered it our duty to go to 
Mexico ; so we sadly parted company. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 123 

Upon consultation, our little party deemed it 
best, in order to prevent any possible conflict with 
the authorities, to reach Mexico by, going- west 
through New Mexico, by the way of Sonora. It 
was a long journey to take. Three more of the 
company changed their minds when we arrived at 
Santa Fe, and concluded to go on to California. 
We persevered on our way, and arrived at the 
camp of the patriots October 16th, 1865, just six- 
teen days after the so-called Emperor Maximilian 
had issued the celebrated order that every man 
found fighting for the republic, if captured, should 
be immediately shot. The issuing of this order 
by Maximilian cost him his life. 



124 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 



CHAPTER Xlll. 

Arrival in camp of patriots — Their little army — Dififerent nationali- 
ties — The character of the Mexican greaser— I trust them and find them 
reliable— What we had to eat — The way the contest was carried on — A 
thrilling adventure: 

I found the little band that I first reached com- 
prised of about six hundred, — that is, when they 
were all in camp, — without quartermaster, commis- 
sary, wag-ons or artillery; armed with all kinds of 
fire-arms, of ancient and modern makes. The 
little army was composed of Americans, English, 
Germans, French, Canadians, Russians, Scotch, 
Irish, Grecians, and pure Mexicans — that is, if there 
is such a thing as a pure Mexican ; and we were 
of all religions and no religion, and those of no 
religion were in the decided majority. 

The day of my arrival I had a long talk with a 
young Englishman, who was on the- staff of Colonel 
Conteena. He told me that the greasers, who 
would form the bulk of our followers — probably 
three-fourths or more — were very peculiar, and I 
would find them unlike any other part of the 
human family; that they were lazy, unreliable, and 
treacherous, and that the only way to get along 
with them was to treat them as though they were 
dogs; that when I ordered one to do anything, 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 125 

and he didn't start, to go right at him and kick 
him until he did start; when I was out on the 
march with them, I should never let them get 
behind, for they would be liable to stab me in the 
back; and never, under any circumstances, to go 
to sleep with them, unless there was some white 
man on watch, as they would be liable to convert 
me into a ghost, if I did. 

This was the gloomy outlook that I had before 
me; these were the men that I had come so many 
thousand miles to fight for, and to die with for lib- 
erty. I informed the young officer that I should 
treat these men as human beings, as men, and that 
I had no fears as to the result. I told him that 
I thought I saw where the trouble was ; that if 
any man should kick me, that he would live just 
long enough for me to get at him to kill him ; that 
I should treat these men in every respect as my 
equals, should not kick them, and when out on a 
march I wouldn't care whether they walked before 
me or behind me ; that I should go to sleep with- 
out leaving anyone to watch over me, and had no 
fears whatsoever of the result. And in the eighteen 
months that I was with these men, I treated them 
kindly, trusted them implicitly, ate with them, 
slept with them, and never received anything but 
kindness and courtesy from them. 

I found that it was the policy of the Mexican 
government to avoid anything like a general 



126 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

engagement with the imperial troops, but to watch 
for the enemy and catch him every time when he 
was unguarded, to strike him at every unguarded 
spot, and not permit a day to pass that he could 
fancy himself secure. This was a wise policy, and 
in this way we could have kept up the war indef- 
initely. We always knew where the enemy was; 
there was never an hour in the year but eyes were 
upon the foe, ready to report any mistake. 

For our commissary — we had none at all ; we 
had to live on the country, literally. We learned 
to eat everything that fiew in the air or crept 
upon the earth. Mingling with those people who 
were composed of all bloods, caused me to lose all 
my race prejudice; and being compelled to eat 
everything made me lose all my prejudice in 
regard to foods. I got so that I would eat a 
rattlesnake as quick as I would a bluefish or a 
chicken. 

During the eighteen months that I served in 
the Mexican army, I had many adventures, and 
desperate ones, too; but the size of this volume will 
not permit me to go into the history of all of these. 
As no prisoners were taken on either side, we 
always went out to fight the foe with our lives in our 
hands. 

Upon one occasion, word was brought to us 
that a small French force of fifteen or twenty men 
had taken possession of a sugar-ranch down in the 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 127 

valley, for the purpose of confiscating the sugar 
and sirups belonging to the- old planter, who was 
a good, true republican. Their location had been 
described to us, and we knew just where to strike 
them ; so I took twenty-five men and started out to 
sweep them off the face of the earth. I think most 
everybody has heard the old adage of the one who 
went out for wool and came home shorn. Well, it 
was fully exemplified in our case. 

A path through the thicket had been described 
to us, by which we could easily approach the 
enemy unobserved. There was no moon that 
night, but plenty of beautiful stars, such as they 
have in that glorious country. A.s we approached 
the enemy, we saw by their light where the men 
had lain themselves down on their blankets. 
They had evidently made a fire and had thrown 
some green cane upon it to make a smudge to 
keep off the mosquitoes. The mosquito is quite an 
animal in that country. It was a volume of smoke 
that could not be perceived in the dark that led us 
into our fatal mistake. I had directed my men to 
creep as close to the enemy as possible, and when 
I gave the signal, to aim and fire. They did so : 
but, Jerusalem! instead of the little party that we 
annihilated on our first fire, we found the woods 
were full of them ; they rose up everywhere. 
Finding that if we remained, it meant massacre, I 
ordered my men to escape the best they could to 



128 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

the thickets. The French were pouring their fire 
in upon us, and I saw the men falling everywhere. 
In my flight I ran behind a cane factory that had 
been used quite recently, as there was a large 
amount of the debris of the cane still at the mill, 
and I found it right in front of me. In my attempt 
to go over it — for there was no way to go around 
it without running into the French — I stumbled 
and fell, and the ground cane fell over me in large 
abundance, covering me completely with per- 
haps two or three feet of the debris. I concluded 
to lie there. The French soldiers went over me — 
I thought about a thousand of them, but probably 
fifty was nearer the number. 

After they had passed I began to reflect upon 
my situation. I came to the conclusion it would 
be better to lie there until the French returned, 
and then, if possible, creep out and get to the 
thicket. Soon they returned, very much excited 
and noisy. I knew that I must get out of there as 
soon as possible, as daylight would soon come, 
and that would be fatal. I considered the ques- 
tion whether I would take my carbine, or blunder- 
buss, with me. I dare not undertake to find the 
path through the thicket through which I had 
come, as the entrance, I feared, lay in the hands 
of the enemy ; and so I must get into the thicket 
at the nearest point and take my chances, and be 
guided back to camp by the stars. I cautiously 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 129 

crawled out from my hiding place into the 
opening ; and was glad enough to get into the 
opening, too, for I knew that no place anywhere 
could be hotter than my hiding place had been. 
It had been, indeed, a veritable Turkish bath. 
The distance to the thicket was probably sixty 
rods. I concluded not to attempt to take my car- 
bine with me, but to rely upon my revolver for any 
emergency. Stealthily on my hands and knees I 
crawled to the thicket, and when I got into it I 
congratulated myself; but a thicket in that country 
is a thicket. One who has never seen the 
"shrambles" of Mexico cannot appreciate any- 
thing about their density ; and then they are thorny, 
and there is among them a large population of 
insects to the square foot. But, guided by the stars, 
I slowly and painfully crawled along, and finally 
succeeded in getting into camp just as daylight 
had begun to dawn. 

When I arrived my body was in the condition 
of our first parents in the garden of Eden, but 
bleeding all over, and without even an apron of fig 
leaves. I was the only one of my company that 
ever returned. At once a consultation was called, 
and we decided to move, as a precaution against 
being pursued by the French. We learned after- 
ward that after dark a whole regiment of French 
soldiers, some five or six hundred men, had 
arrived at the plantation; and this was the force our 
little squad had got into. 



I30 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

The meeting with General Escobedo — Become a member of his 
staff — The French rapidly leaving the country — News arrives that the 
last detachment of French has left, and that Maximilian has left the city 
of Mexico and gone out to Queretaro, w^here he proposes to make his 
last stand — His capture, trial, death — My impressions of the Mexican 
leaders and their corps. 

In January, 1867, General Escobedo arrived 
and took command of our force. I was introduced 
to him shortly after his arrival, and found him an 
elegant gentleman, a fine soldier, and of a chival- 
rous nature. For some reason he took quite a 
fancy to me from the first, and shortly afterward I 
became a member of his staff. A little incident 
occurred about this time that shows the simple, 
primitive character of the Mexican. 

There was a lieutenant in our command whom 
I had known ever since joining the Mexican army. 
In our march we had come within a short distance 
of his home. His handsome daughter, a girl about 
fourteen, came to camp with her mother to see her 
father. She was one of the most beautiful girls I 
ever saw, and in that warm country girls become 
young ladies very early. I have seen mothers 
there twelve years old. I was introduced to his 
wife and daughter, and took a meal with them. 
They belonged to what we would call the lower 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 131 

order of the Mexicans, and yet among this class 
sometimes you meet magnificent specimens of 
both men and women. 

After his family had left, I complimented him 
upon his beautiful daughter, just as I would a happy 
father in this country, who had such a treasure. I 
thought nothing more of it, but he seemed to have 
misjudged me. He came to me some few days 
afterward and wished to borrow some money of me. 
I had brought wdth me into the Mexican service 
about two hundred dollars in gold. There was no 
chance to spend any of it, so I had most of it still 
on hand. I loaned him a ten-dollar gold piece, 
the amount he had asked for, yet he continued 
waiting around. Finally, he came to business by 
offering me the hand of his beautiful daughter. It 
seems that is a custom in that country. I was quite 
taken by surprise, but the Mexicans are so sensi- 
tive that one has to approach them very carefully. 
Nothing was further from my thoughts, then, than 
becoming a benedict, and I could not think of 
marrying a Mexican lady, however beautiful, as the 
ways and natures of Mexicans were entirely foreign 
to my own, and so I must decline the offer. I 
thanked him for the high com.pliment he had paid 
me in offering me the hand of his beautiful daugh- 
ter, but reminded him that we were in an uncertain 
contest and our lives were not promised us for a sin- 
gle day. He frankly told me that would be no 



132 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

great misfortune to her, as she could very readily 
get another husband. With this I coincided, but 
urged other reasons, and among them, that I was 
a heretic in religion, and that his beautiful daughter 
could never be happy as the wife of a heretic. I 
knew he was a very devout Catholic, and that last 
objection seemed to be satisfactory, for I saw him 
visibly shiver as I mentioned it. He then departed, 
and I congratulated myself on my diplomacy. 

We were now ordered to Queretaro, where we 
arrived May 14th. There I met for the first time 
President Juarez, and General Diaz, now President 
ol Mexico, and other leaders of the republican 
forces. I saw again a regular army — one of forty 
thousand men — composed of artillery, cavalry and 
infantry. Plans were made at once to attack. I 
had been on Escobedo's staff, but now I was to 
lead a brigade in the assault. We were lying 
upon our faces waiting for the first appearance of 
daylight to attack. We were to attack them on 
every side; but Maximilian had been sold out by 
Lopez, one of his Mexican generals, and I was 
told about two o'clock that there would be no bat- 
tle. General Escobedo entered the city, relieved 
the Imperial guards at every point — all of this 
happening while Maximilian was sound asleep. 
He only awoke to find himself a prisoner of war. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 133 



CHAPTER XV. 

The summoning of a military commission to try Maximilian — 
Universal demand for his death — Found guilty and sentenced to death, 
which was to take place within five days of his sentence — The trial of 
Generals Miramon and Mejia — Efforts made by the different European 
nations and the United States government to save Maximilian — The 
refusal — His death — Reflections. 

I did not see Maximilian until the second day 
after his capture, when I had charge of him for a 
day. I do not think he had the slightest idea of 
his impending doom. I am told that when he was 
informed he was about to be tried, he seemed very 
much surprised, and asked on what charge. He 
was told the charges w^ere being formulated, and 
they would be submitted to him soon. He asked 
if he could have counsel, and was informed he 
could have any one whom he might choose. He 
chose an American, a man by the name of Hall, 
from the city ot Mexico. Mr. Hall was sent for at 
once, and the trial proceeded. 

The two principal charges against him were : 
first, issuing his celebrated order executing all who 
were found fighting to sustain the republic; second, 
of being a filibuster, as a subject of Francis Joseph 
of Austria, making war upon a nation with whom 
Austria was at peace. He was found guilty, and 
at once sentenced to be shot within five days of 
the time of the sentence. Upon this being made 



134 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

known to him, he asked that he might have proper 
time to prepare for so important an event. This 
was granted him, and the 19th of June was fixed 
as the day of his execution. Generals Mejia 
and Miramon were tried upon the charge of being 
traitors to their country, and also sentenced to be 
shot, the date of their execution being fixed the 
same day as that of the archduke. 

Great efforts were at once put forth by all of 
the European powers to save Maximilian's life. 
They remonstrated, threatened, protested, and 
entreated. Finally, the Emperor of Austria, his 
brother, asked the United States government to 
use its good office and influence to save the 
doomed man, and this was done. 

I am sure that President Juarez disliked 
exceedingly to put Maximilian to death, and 
above all would have liked to grant the request of 
the United States, to which country he felt every 
sense of gratitude for the part our government had 
taken in compelling the French to evacuate 
Mexico : but that terribly cruel order Maximilian 
had issued, by which so many noble men had per- 
ished, caused practically all of Mexico to demand 
his death; and however much President Juarez 
was loved and adored, he could not have prevented 
the execution. I am sorry to say that I felt just 
that way myself — that he. had to die. 

One day when I had charge of him, I said to 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 135 

him: " Your Majesty remembers, no doubt, when 
you were the viceroy of Italy, that you ordered the 
expulsion from all of your domain, of those political 
refugees who had taken part in the demonstration 
of honor to Captain Ingraham, of the United 
States navy." 

He said, "Yes," without raising his head. 

I said, "Your Majesty, I was one of those refu- 
gees." 

Now for the first time he raised his eyes, and 
said: "That is impossible, as that was many years 
ago, and you are a very young man." 

I said, " Yes, that was sixteen years ago, and I 
was but a very small boy, but your order excluded 
me." 

"Well, time rounds up all things," was the 
reply. 

Among those who were taken prisoners at the 
time with Maximilian, was Prince Salm Salm. The 
prince had been a brave soldier in the Union army. 
The United States government asked that he 
might be liberated, and he was. His wife was an 
American lady, and a very beautiful woman; a 
woman of wonderful power and fascination. She 
was so charming that when she went through the 
hospitals in Washington, the boys used to say that 
if she would visit the hospitals every day, they 
could discharge their doctors, as she would do 
more to restore them to health by her charming 



136 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

smiles and manners than all of the doctors and 
their medicine. 

Upon her arrival in Queretaro, we found out 
that she began at once to use her blandishments 
and fascinations to affect an escape for Maximilian. 
One Mexican officer who was to have charge of 
him one day, was offered by the princess three 
hundred thousand dollars in gold. He was a man 
who did not possess a dollar in the world, but such 
was his patriotism, and the universal hatred which 
was borne toward Maximilian, that he spurned the 
offer. After the development of this attempt to 
bribe, the charming princess was informed that 
there was a good deal of malaria in Queretaro, 
and for the good of her health she had better 
return to the city of Mexico. She went at once. 

The last three or four days of Maximilian's life 
were spent almost wholly with the priest. On 
the morning of the execution, June 19th, 1867, — a 
beautiful, bright morning, — he was taken out to 
the old convent where he was captured, and where 
he had lived during the time he was in our custody, 
and there placed in an ambulance, and driven out- 
side of the walls of the city, near an old fortress, 
where the execution took place. 

Arriving on the ground, the troops were formed 
in line. The doomed men were placed in position, 
Maximilian standing on the right of the firing 
party. The firing party consisted of thirty-six 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 137 

men, formed into two companies, six men to each 
one of the doomed men. Each of the six men 
were furnished with loaded rifles, except one in 
each of the six, who had a blank cartridge. There 
had been a sharp rivalry for the honor of belong- 
ing to the firing party. I was selected to com- 
mand the reserve firing party. When everything 
was ready, each one of the men was asked if he 
had anything to say. 

Maximilian, speaking in Spanish, said in sub- 
stance, that he loved Mexico and desired its wel- 
fare ; and if the shedding of his blood would be the 
means of bringing peace and happiness to the dis- 
tracted country, he was willing to die. Generals 
Mejia and Miramon said a few words that I do not 
now remember, closing by saying: "Long live 
Mexico." Maximilian asked that the commander 
of the firing party might advance to him, when he 
delivered to that officer six pieces of gold, which is 
equivalent to about ten dollars of our money. He 
ordered a piece of gold to be delivered to each one 
of the firing party, directing them to take good aim. 

The firing party was now ordered to advance, 
make ready — aim — fire. The two generals fell dead, 
apparently never moving after they struck the 
ground. Strange as it may seem, Maximilian fell 
mortally wounded only, exclaiming as he fell: "Oh! 
my God! my God! " At once the commander of 
the reserve firing party ordered one of the men 



138 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

from his own party to advance, and drawing his 
own revolver, ordered him to put it to the ear of 
the archduke and fire.. He did so, and the career 
of the archduke was ended. I ordered him to use 
my revolver for this reason, that I did not know 
who of the firing party had the blank cartridge, 
and I did not wish any more mishaps, and thus add 
to the misery of the unfortunate man. Thus 
ended the career of the so-called emperor. At the 
time of his death he lacked about a month of being 
thirty-five years of age. 

It seems very strange now that Emperor 
Napoleon should have chosen such a weak man for 
such a trying place. A more unfortunate selection 
could not have been made. Maximilian was a man 
of exceedingly small caliber, but probably as good 
as the average monarch of Europe. He would 
have done well enough to have acted as a mere 
figurehead, as most of the monarchs of Europe are 
— indeed, I think he would have been eminently 
successful in that role. Unlike most of the mon- 
archs of Europe of to-day and of the past, he was a 
man of sound morals. He was a very handsome 
man — I should say at least six feet high, a blonde, 
and rather pleasing in his manners. He was well 
calculated for the ballroom and the palace. I 
believe that a strong, wise, discreet man could 
have succeeded in the role that he attempted to 
play in Mexico; but it required all of these qualities, 



Life of Colonel John Sobieskl. 139 

and he possessed none of them. He treated all of 
his Mexican chieftains with contempt, which is the 
natural feeling that everyone has for a traitor. It 
is said he took up the precious time which he 
should have used in maturing measures for the 
consolidation of his empire, in settling questions of 
etiquette about his court. 

His wife, Carlotta, who was the daughter of 
the King of the Netherlands, was a bright, able, 
and beautiful woman, liberal in her views, and 
broad in her ideas of statecraft. Had she been 
the ruler, I believe she would have succeeded. 

The conduct of Maximilian while waiting for 
execution in the last month of his life, was becom- 
ing. This was surprising to those who knew him, 
but I think I can understand it. He was a deeply 
religious man, and had no doubt in his mind but 
when he died his soul would immediately pass into 
the abode of the blest, and he would at once join 
his Carlotta — for at the time of his death he sup- 
posed that she was dead, as it was so represented 
to him; and then he was aware of the fact that he 
belonged to one of the most ancient royal houses 
of Europe, and that the manner of his tragic death 
would be such that the whole world in all ages to 
come would read of his every act, word, and move- 
ment during that last eventful month of his life. 

The world seems to think, or rather, I might 
say the impression is general, that Carlotta went 



I40 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

crazy on account of the tragic death of her hus- 
band. This is a mistake; she had gone mad a 
year previous to his death. After the French 
agreed to leave Mexico, Carlotta returned to 
Europe and went from court to court begging help 
to sustain Maximilian, but was rebuffed every- 
where; and it was too much for her proud, sensi- 
tive spirit, and she went mad, and has remained so 
even unto this day. 

There are some who would try to apologize 
for Maximilian and save him from the discredit of 
that awful, blood-thirsty and cruel order, trying to 
do so by throwing the blame on others — Mejia, 
Miramon, and Bazaine ; but the whole thing is 
characteristic of the Austrian reigning house. It 
has been said that he was a weak man, and there- 
fore could not do such a bloody thing; but weak 
men more often than strong ones do cruel things. 
Nero was not a strong man, neither was Mary of 
England a strong woman. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 141 

CHAPTER XVI. 

My impressions of President Juarez, Escobedo, and Diaz. 

The next day after the execution of Maximilian 
I met President Juarez personally for the first time. 
He gave an audience to the foreign officers who 
had served in behalf of the republic. We had a 
long talk with him. In our group there were 
Americans, English, Germans, French, and Italians. 
All of these different nationalties had been drawn 
to Mexico by a love of adventure and to serve 
the cause of liberty. The President won our 
hearts at once. He warmly thanked us for our 
services in behalf of Mexico. He addressed us in 
the Spanish language, or rather the Mexican dia- 
lect, as we could all understand him in that. He 
said it was useless for him to express his sense of 
gratitude to us, as he had not words and could not 
find words to express it; and he said all that 
Mexico could do for us would never be half 
enough. He said that for Mexicans to fight for 
Mexico was natural; but for foreigners who had no 
other ties except the love of liberty and a desire to 
assist a brave people who were struggling against 
fearful odds, to make every sacrifice and to suffer 
every privation for the republic, was a spirit so 
noble that it could not be put into language. 



142 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

For some reason or other my associates chose 
me as their spokesman, although I was the 
youngest of the group, lacking at that time a few 
months of being twenty-five. I assured him in 
behalf of my associates that what we had done, 
we had done freely ; that we desired neither gold 
nor lands ; that we had been amply repaid in see- 
ing the cause for which we had served triumphant, 
and Mexico free; and we felt assured that Mexico 
had taught the world a good lesson, and that 
hereafter ambitious adventurers would see in the 
fate of Maximilian that Mexico was not a good 
country for them to trouble. 

As we shook him by the hand at the close of 
our interview, he said he hoped that we would all 
conclude to spend the rest of our lives in a land in 
defense of whose liberties we had fought so nobly. 

I saw him quite a number of times afterward, 
while in Mexico, and enjoyed several chats with 
him. In one of the visits I had with him, he gave 
me the full history of the causes which led up to 
the invasion of Mexico, which I have given in 
a former chapter, and which Minister Romero had 
given me in my interview with him in Washington. 

I regard President Juarez as one of the noblest 
characters that we have any record of in history. 
He was a full-blooded Indian, yet he had risen 
up through every obstacle, until he reached the 
highest position in the gift of his nation. On com- 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 143 

ing- to public life, he saw that the great incubus 
upon that republic was the clergy; that they owned 
more than two-thirds of the real estate of Mexico, 
that they were thoroughly monarchical in their 
principles, and that nothing would satisfy them but 
monarchy ; and that, as far as the education of the 
masses was concerned, they were bitterly opposed 
to it. So it was their aim to keep up such a 
tumult, insurrection, rebellion, that the people at 
last, weary from the struggle, would willingly yield 
themselves to some despot. Appreciating the true 
situation of his country, he was determined to 
inaugurate and lead a movement that should give 
both peace and liberty to his people ; and to do this 
he was called upon to make a great sacrifice of his 
feelings. He was a Catholic; he knew practically 
nothing of any other kind of religion; an Indian 
Catholic at that, knowing nothing but submission 
to the priesthood. He wished to live and die in 
communion with the church. He saw before him 
excommunication, ostracism, and possibly death in 
disgrace; but, nevertheless, he was determined to 
strike the blow. He knew, too, what a people he 
had to contend with ; a people that were ignorant, 
as far as the mass was concerned ; a people that 
were superstitious, and thoroughly devoted to the 
clergy : but he was determined to make the trial. 
He gathered about him some of the most progres- 
sive men of the republic, and laid his plans before 



144 I-if^ o^ Colonel John Sobieski. 

them. They at once joined him with one accord 
in the movement. Then began that tremenduous 
struggle that ended only on the 19th of June, 1867, 
just ten years from the time of his inauguration. 
His theory as to the real cause of the trouble in 
Mexico has proven to be correct ; for though thirty- 
two years and more have passed since the execu- 
tion of Maximilian, yet in all that time there has 
not been enoueh blood shed in insurrections to 
equal what has been spilled in some of our bloody 
strikes and riots. He was thoroughly humane in 
his feelings, and was very much opposed to blood- 
shed. So much was he opposed to it, that, as much 
trouble as Maximilian had given his country, and 
notwithstanding the cruel decree of the emperor, 
by which so many of Mexico's noble sons had been 
cruelly butchered while prisoners of war, if Juarez 
had had his own way he would not have executed 
him. And he told me that he regretted Mejia's 
and Miramon's executions, and that if he had had 
it in his power, he would have sent them out of the 
country instead; and yet two worse traitors could 
not be imagined. Mejia had been a soldier in the 
Mexican army; Miramon had been not only a 
general, but a president of the republic ; and yet 
they had joined themselves together to slaughter 
their own countrymen and to perpetuate the reign 
of a foreign prince. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 145 

As soon as the republic was thoroughly estab- 
lished, Juarez went to work to enlighten it. He 
reduced the army to a minimum, established 
schools free from clerical influences, and secured 
the very best of teachers. And the best paid 
officials in Mexico to-day are her school-teachers ; 
and under the operation of her free-school system 
the Republic of Mexico has in a single generation 
raised the standard of popular intelligence till it 
will compare favorably with that of our own coun- 
try. He invited capital to Mexico, promising it 
protection; encouraged the construction of rail- 
roads and the establishing of manufactures ; and 
he capped the climax of his magnificent career by 
establishing perfect religious liberty. He died in 
1872, of apoplexy. He was the real founder of the 
Mexican Republic. He was Mexico's greatest 
general, greatest statesman, purest patriot. 

I did not see much of Diaz. My opinion of 
him at that time was not favorable, and his con- 
duct afterward in opposing Juarez rather confirmed 
that unfavorable opinion; but after he became 
President he carried out the enlightened views of 
Juarez, and has given to Mexico a splendid 
government. 

General Escobedo I knew well. I found him 
an elegant gentleman, sincere and patriotic. He 
was a splendid soldier; tall, graceful in carriage, 
gracious to all with whom he came in contact, 



146 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

brave in battle, and chivalrous. He was my ideal 
of a perfect soldier. 

The general impression in this country is that 
the Mexican people are treacherous, and when 
their passion is aroused, cruel. I never found them 
so; I found them frank, cordial, and polite. Like 
the people of all warm or hot climates, if they are 
deeply wronged, their revenge is terrible. No 
doubt there are treacherous persons amongst them, 
but what nation of people has not that class? I 
think I have found a few outside of the Mexicans 
myself. 

As an illustration of their way of revenge, — 
yet I do not know whether I should say their 
way, for I have known of similar cases in our 
Northern country, — while I was in the city of 
Mexico, a couple of months after the war was over, 
I had been out one night calling on a friend. 
Returning about midnight, I saw standing in the 
shadow of a large tree a man who was apparently 
waiting for someone. I had a small one-barrel 
pistol in a side pocket ; I put my hand upon it. 
While I had wronged no man or person in Mexico, 
yet I thought sometimes mistakes were made, so 
it was better to be prepared. When I arrived 
opposite him he leaped at me like a tiger. I 
quickly stepped aside, just in time to avoid him, 
and stuck my revolver in his face, when the beau- 
tiful moonlight fell on the faces of both of us. I 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 147 

shall never forget, if I should live a thousand years, 
the expression of hatred and the desire for revenge 
that I saw on that man's countenance; and then 
his surprise when he saw my face. He dropped 
his knife immediately, begged my pardon a thou- 
sand times, it seemed, which I readily granted. 
He gave me his card, strange as it may seem, and 
asked me to call and see him. I assured him if I 
remained in the city long enough I would do so, 
but other engagements during my few remaining 
days in the city prevented me from calling. It 
was clearly a case of mistaken identity, and might 
have been a costly one to me. 

Shortly before I left Mexico the Congress of 
Mexico conferred upon all of those who had come 
from other lands to fight for the cause of liberty 
without any financial consideration, the rights of 
citizenship, and ten thousand acres of land upon 
any unoccupied domain of Mexico. I have never 
called for my land. 

There is something very remarkable about this 
invasion of Mexico by France and Spain that I have 
never seen mentioned by any writer: it is the terri- 
ble fatality or misfortune that has befallen all the 
individuals who had any connection with it. 

The two Mexican generals and leaders, Gen- 
eral Mejia and ex-President Miramon, were both 
declared to be traitors by a jury of their country- 
men, and sentenced to death. 



148 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

Pope Pius IX, who influenced France and Spain 
to make war upon Mexico, lost his power as a 
temporal prince, and his capital, Rome, and shut 
himself up in the Vatican, declaring himself to be 
a prisoner of the King of Italy, and never left the 
Vatican alive again. His minister or delegate, as 
the title is, afterward fell into disgrace and com- 
mitted suicide. 

Eugenie, the empress of France, who intrigued 
to secure her husband's cooperation in the expedi- 
tion, lost her throne, her husband, and her son; 
and she has now for nearly thirty years been an exile 
in England, a grief-stricken, heart-broken woman. 
The Emperor Napoleon led his country into war 
with terrible defeat, broke the prestige of his 
uncle's great name, was driven from his throne, 
and died in disgrace, an exile in England. 

Isabella of Spain lost her throne, and for more 
than thirty years has been living in exile. 

General Prim, who led the Spanish army into 
Mexico, and the greatest military man that Spain 
has had in a hundred years, was assassinated in 
the streets of Madrid. 

Marshal Bazaine was tried upon the charge of 
being a traitor to France, and was sentenced to be 
shot; but his old comrade-in-arms. President 
McMahon, commuted his sentence to imprison- 
ment for life, and he was confined for several 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 149 

years, but finally made his escape, and died in 
poverty and distress in Spain. 

France, who had led the movement, lost her 
proud position as the most powerful nation on the 
continent of Europe; was humiliated in her war 
with Germany, in which she never won a battle or 
a skirmish; had her capital captured by the 
Germans; was stripped of a large portion of her 
most valuable territory, and trodden in the- dust. 

Spain, who seconded France, got into a war 
with the United States, lost practically all of her 
colonies, most of her navy, and suffered the most 
humiliating defeat that any nation has ever known. 

Surely, in this unparalleled record, as one con- 
templates it, can be seen the retribution of God 
for a causeless and cruel invasion. 



15° Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 



CHAPTER XVll. 

My return to the United States — Visit different points in the 
United States — Finally settle down in Minnesota- Become a reformer in 
' politics — Elected to the legislature — Introduce three reform measures. 

After spending a couple of months in the city of 
Mexico, and enjoying myself as I never have before 
or since for the same length of time, I was finally 
wakened out of my dreams of pleasure, receptions, 
balls, celebrations, and so forth, to realize that 
there was something more serious for me in hand; 
so I turned my eyes toward the United States. 

The ten years which I had served in the United 
States army, and the battles I had fought in the 
country's behalf, had so imbued me with American 
spirit and national feeling, that I could never think 
of permanently locating anywhere except in the 
domain of "Uncle Sam." 

I would not return to my native land and per- 
manently locate there, even though it might be 
free, and all of my ancestral rights restored to me. 
It is my earnest desire that the last time I shall 
open my eyes to behold the light of day, it may be 
to look upon the land of my adoption; and may all 
of my descendants ever abide under the stars and 
stripes, in the land of the free and the home of the 
brave. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 151 

I landed in New York the 1st of September, 
1867. After sojourning a few days in New York, 
I went to Boston. I then proceeded to Chicago; 
and from there to Rochester, Minnesota, where I 
spent the winter and the following spring. It was 
while in Rochester, Minnesota, that I became con- 
nected with the Independent Order of Good 
Templars. I was at that time rough and uncouth, 
as one naturally would be whose life had been 
spent in the army from the time he was twelve 
years old until he was twenty-five. 

It was in this lodge of Good Templars that I 
met a very beautiful young lady. Miss Sophia D. 
Chapin. She took a great deal of interest in me, 
and at once exercised a remarkable influence over 
me. She was a school-teacher, and she did her 
work well with me. She would chide me when I 
did wrong, which was quite often, and correct me in 
my speech and manners ; she did wonders for me 
the six months that I remained under her beautiful 
influence. We left Rochester about the same 
time, she to teach school in Mississippi, and I to 
go further west. We did not meet again for 
twenty years. At first we exchanged letters for a 
year or so, and then our correspondence ceased. 

During the campaign for prohibition in North 
Dakota, in 1889, I often saw letters in the New 
York Voice, written by Mrs. J. C. White. I liked 
her letters very much indeed, and found out that 



152 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

she and her husband, Captain J. C. White, were 
conducting the campaign for prohibition in that 
State. 

When I spoke in Fargo, I met Mrs. Baxter of 
Michigan. She said to me: "Mrs. J. C. White 
sends her regards to you, and says that you must 
come to Castleton and visit them before you leave 
North Dakota." 

I replied that I had read and heard a good 
deal about Mrs. White, but had never had the 
pleasure of meeting with her; however, I should 
enjoy meeting her and her husband very much. 

"Why," said Mrs. Baxter, "she said that you 
and she were old friends, and that you were one of 
the noblest young men she ever knew. She said 
you would know her maiden name, which was 
Sophia D. Chapin. " 

How delighted I was to hear of my old civilizer, 
and friend of olden days, and find her so active in 
a cause to which I was devoting my life! 

When I arrived in Grand Forks, I received a 
letter from Captain White, saying that I was 
announced to speak at Fargo on Sunday night, 
and asking me if I wouldn't speak in Castleton 
Sunday afternoon, as the train ran so that I could 
return to Fargo in time to lecture. He said he 
had heard so much of me, and heard his wife talk 
so much about me, that he was desirous of meeting 
me. I accepted the kind invitation, arrived there 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 153 

early Sunday morning, and spent the hours very 
pleasantly talking over the olden days. I spoke 
there in the afternoon, and then Captain White 
and his wife accompanied me to Fargo and 
remained until Tuesday morning. I found Cap- 
tain White a high-toned, chivalrous gentleman, a 
worthy husband of such a noble woman. 

A few weeks afterward I received a letter from 
him, telling me that he had seen by the papers that 
I was to be in Chicago during the session of the 
National Woman's Christian Temperance Union ; 
that it would be impossible for him to attend, but 
his wife would attend, and asking me if it was too 
much to ask of me to see that his wife got a 
pleasant stopping place, and to care for her in any 
way that she might need help while she was there. 
I did so, and did all I could to make the time 
pleasant for her. 

She died a few months afterward from 
la grippe. Her husband survived her only a few 
weeks, dying from the same disease. Both of 
them had worked so hard during that campaign 
which gave to North Dakota prohibition, that they 
hadn't strength enough to resist the ravages ot 
disease. It is due to them and to the temper- 
ance people of North Dakota that a suitable 
monument should be erected at their grave, and 
upon it should be an inscription telling of their 
splendid lives and the sacrifices they made to give 



154 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

to North Dakota its constitution forever prohibiting 
the liquor traffic in the State. A brighter or more 
beautiful spirit than that of Mrs. Sophia White 
never went through the pearly gates. 

I visited St. Paul first, and then Minneapolis, 
finally settling down in Dayton, a suburban town 
of Minneapolis, where 1 spent my time when not 
working for temperance, in reading law. I had 
the good fortune while there of making the 
acquaintance of Mr. Richard Robinson, a splendid 
man, and his noble wife, who were as true friends 
as any that God ever gave me. They were loyal 
to me in every emergency. 

That fall a serious breach broke out in the 
Republican party of Hennepin County, and the 
better element of the party was so dissatisfied with 
the nominations made in the convention that they 
bolted. A call for a convention to nominate a reform 
ticket was immediately made. It was composed 
of men of all parties, and I was nominated as one 
of the candidates for the legislature. The con- 
vention was presided over by Russell H. Conwell, 
who was then a young attorney, and editor of the 
first daily paper of Minneapolis, The Daily 
Chronicle. Mr. Conwell is now Rev. Dr. Conwell, 
the celebrated popular lecturer, and pastor of the 
great University Baptist Church of Philadelphia, 
the largest Baptist Church in the world. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 155 

I took the stump during that campaign and 
spoke in every town in the county. I was elected 
by an overwhelming majority, leading my entire 
ticket, which to me was quite remarkable, as I had 
lived in the county but a few months : and during 
the entire campaign I proclaimed myself first and 
last and at all times a prohibitionist ; and to say 
that in that day and in that new country was quite 
different from what it is now. 

The legislature assembled in January. The 
Sunday before I went to St. Paul, I was invited to 
the house of an ex-member of Congress to dine. 
After dinner he took me into his library and said 
he was going to give me some good advice. He 
said he had taken a great deal of interest in me 
ever since he had known me, and had in every 
way shown his friendship for me, and continued: 
*'Now you are the kind of a young man I 
can talk to, for the reason that you don't have any 
symptoms of the big-head. Now, my young friend, 
you have a brilliant political future before you, if 
you do not make any mistakes. There is no 
reason why you cannot be in Congress in less than 
ten years, if you act wisely. Now do this, my 
young friend, and you will be all right: fully iden- 
tify yourself with the Republican party, and never 
fly the track ; let the Republican platform be your 
creed, and never know anything else or advocate 
anything else except that which you find in the 



156 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

platform of the party. Doubtless, sometimes the 
party will do something and stand for something- 
that you would not wish to accept but never mind, 
swallow it down. This should always quiet your 
conscience: that the average intelligence and 
morality ought to be equal to yours, Consequently 
you should be willing to submit to whatever a 
majority of the party says is right and proper. Let 
these social questions, such as temperance and 
kindred questions, alone; leave them to the ministers 
and to the Church." 

I thanked the judge for his good advice, but 
that winter in the legislature I advocated woman 
suffrage, the abolishment of the death penalty, and 
the prohibition of the liquor traffic, and did and 
said a lot of other things which no wise or discreet 
politician who was looking for future political 
promotion would ever do. 

Then the judge told me that I would never be 
elected to another office by any political party. 
As that has been more than thirty years ago, and as 
I have never had an office since, I guess the judge 
was right. Still, I am more than satisfied with 
my choice ; and if I had my life to live over again, 
I would choose the same path. 

When I was in the legislature, William A. 
Marshall was the governor of the State. Governor 
Marshall was a very courteous, affable gentleman. 
He had been a brave soldier, and was in every 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 157 

way a worthy man. Hon. William Yale, of 
Winona, was lieutenant governor. J. Q. Farmer 
was speaker of the House. All of these gentle- 
men are now living, with the exception of Gov- 
ernor Marshall. 

The leading men of the State Senate at that 
time were Hon. William P. Murray of St. Paul, 
Senator Daniels of Rochester, and Senator Lord 
of Mower County. In the House of Representa- 
tives, the leading members were Hon. Mark 
Dinell, Hon. Dana King, Hon. Cushman K. Davis. 

I found myself to be the youngest man of the 
legislature. There were two others born the 
same year, but later in the year. They were 
Cushman K. Davis of St. Paul, and A. A. Ames 
of Minneapolis. 

Cushman K. Davis, though serving his first term, 
and one of its very youngest members, at once 
came to the front as one of the ablest debaters, 
and gave promise of the great name that he has 
since achieved. While governor of the State of 
Minnesota, Mr. Davis gave evidence of some poli- 
tical independence, and that injured him for a 
while; but he has recovered from it, and is now the 
idol of his party in the State. 

A. A. Ames, one of my colleagues, a bright, 
rising young doctor, has since been four times 
mayor of the splendid city of Minneapolis, and has 



158 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

several times been a candidate of his party for 
the governorship. He was and is a Democrat. 

As soon as the legislature had got well under 
way, I gave notice of the introduction of a bill pro- 
hibiting the liquor traffic, and another bill for the 
abolishment of the death penalty. The last named 
bill I could never get from the committee it was 
referred to. 

One day I received a petition from a Mrs. 
Coleman. It was signed by about one hundred 
names, asking for woman suffrage. Mrs. Coleman 
was an educated woman, and of considerable 
ability; a spiritualistic medium. On receiving the 
petition, I consulted with one of my colleagues as 
to what I should do with it. '*0h!" he said, 
"pay no attention to the thing; for if anyone 
introduces it, it will make hirn the laughing-stock 
of the House." 

I thought over the matter a day or two, and 
came to the conclusion that I ought to present it. 
So one morning at the proper time I sent up the 
petition. It caused great laughter and applause, 
and a motion was made, and carried unanimously, 
that it be referred to a committee of one, and that 
one the member from Hennepin who had pre- 
sented it. So, amid shouting and laughter the 
motion was carried, and it was handed back to me. 
I put it back in my drawer, never intending to 
look at it again. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 159 

Of course all of this was reported in the papers, 
and in a few days I received a letter from a lady 
who was quite renowned in the educational world, 
and whose husband has since been a judge and a 
United States Senator, saying that she had seen 
the action of the legislature in the case, and 
knowing that I was a young man, she would send 
me some books and other printed matter, and it 
might help me in getting up my report. I had 
thought that the whole thing was a joke, and 
intended to pay no attention to it ; but in a day or 
two the documents came, and to my astonishment 
I found speeches and papers favoring woman 
suffrage from such statesmen as Lyman Trumbull 
of Illinois, Senators Wade and Corwin of Ohio, 
Senators Sumner and Wilson of Massachusetts; 
and from such literary men as Wendell Phillips 
and Ralph Waldo Emerson of Massachusetts. 
I read the documents, and became a convert to 
the principle, and have remained so to this day. 

I found another member of the House who was 
a believer in woman suffrage, Hon. Charles Wheaton 
of Northfield, Rice County. 

I presented my report to the House, and it was 
laid over. Mrs. Coleman wrote to me that she 
would like to come to St. Paul and speak in its 
behalf. I asked for the use of the hall of the 
House of Representatives, and it was readily 
granted. The meeting was largely attended ; the 



i6o Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

lady made an able speech, and it evidently made 
a good impression. 

At the same session of the legislature the 
Republicans were trying to get through a resolu- 
tion amending the constitution, by striking out the 
word white as one of the qualifications of a voter. 
Mr. Maynard, the leader of the Democratic party, 
came over to me and told me if I would vote to tack 
both propositions together, that all the Democratic 
members would support me. Their object was to 
so load down the measure that it would be over- 
whelmingly defeated. 

My idea was that one proposition was as good 
as the other ; that a woman ought to have a chance 
to vote and the black man ought to have a chance 
to vote ; that no one should be deprived of the 
ballot on account of color or sex. All this time 
I had been laughed at so much that I was quite 
sensitive. I thought I was standing practically 
all alone in my support of the bill. But when 
it came up for action, some of the most fashion- 
able and elegant ladies of St. Paul and Minne- 
apolis came into the house, filling the lobby and 
the galleries. I shall never forget my feelings that 
day. Under the influence of the smiles of those 
fair ladies, how brave I was! And .we fought 
a royal battle ; and though defeated, it endorsed a 
movement that will not end until the women of our 
land stand equal with the men before the law. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. i6i 

The next battle in that legislature was on the 
prohibition question. My bill was referred to a 
special committee, of which I was chairman; and, 
to my surprise, I found, after making my speech 
before the committee, that every member was in 
favor of it. It was so reported back to the House, 
and was referred to a committee of the whole, and 
there a battle royal was fought. It went through 
the committee of the whole by a large majority, 
but under the lash of the party whip — the measure 
being stigmatized by the principal Republican 
paper in the State as a bill in the interest of the 
Democratic party, the paper saying if the bill passed 
it would drive the German and the Scandinavian 
vote into the Democratic party, and would hope- 
lessly defeat the Republicans in the State — -and 
under the tremendous pressure that was brought 
against the bill for political reasons, it was 
defeated. 

I said that night after its defeat, that, God 
helping me, I would never vote again with any 
political party that was dictated to by the distiller, 
the brewer, and the saloon-keeper; and I never 
have. 

During that session of the legislature, a mat- 
ter came up that I have often thought of with a 
good deal of pride. Minnesota being largely a 
lumbering State, the State was divided into six 
lumbering districts. An eastern district had what 



i62 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

they called a surveyor of logs. I do not remem- 
ber now what his duties were, but it was a very 
lucrative office. When the war broke out a 
Mr. Camp held the position. It was a position 
worth four thousand dollars a year. But when the 
call was made for men to put down the rebellion, 
he threw up his position and joined the army as a 
private soldier. He came out of the army a 
major. 

One morning- in the lobby of the House of 
Representatives, Dr. Ames introduced me to 
Major Camp. Major Camp said to me that he 
wished my support for the office of surveyor of 
logs. He said he resigned the position to go 
into the army, and that Mr. Lane, his successor, 
had held the office now for seven years, and he 
thought, under the circumstances, that he was 
entitled to it again. I told him that I would 
support him in the caucus. 

That night just as we were going into caucus, 
a senator who did not live in my district, nor in 
Major Camp's district, came to me and said: 'T 
suppose you know who the man is who is to be 
nominated for surveyor in your district. " 

I said, "Why, yes, Major Camp." 

*'Oh, no!" said he, "Mr. Lane, for I have a 
petition signed by every lumberman in that district, 
asking for his reelection." 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 163 

"Well," I said, "nevertheless, I shall support 
Major Camp. " 

He said it would be useless, as everybody else 
would support Mr. Lane. He said even the man 
who would present Mr. Camp's name to the cau- 
cus, would vote for Mr. Lane, and would say so in 
the caucus. I told him all right, he was privileged 
to do so; that while I was well acquainted with 
Mr. Lane and knew that he was all that his friends 
claimed for him, nevertheless, I should always 
vote for the soldier when everything else was 
equal. With that we parted. 

When the caucus got down to our district, the 
senator rose and nominated Mr. Lane with a neat 
little speech, and then started to read the petition, 
when the chairman of the caucus told him that he 
did not presume it was necessary to read the peti- 
tion, as he presumed there would be no opposi- 
tion to Mr. Lane. The senator looked over to 
where my colleague and I sat. 

My colleague said nothing. So I rose and 
said: "Yes, there will be another nomination. " 

So he proceeded to read the petition. 

When he sat down, my colleague rose and 
said he had been requested to put in the nomina- 
tion of Major Camp. He said this request had 
been made by Mr. Camp himself, but said he 
should vote for Mr. Lane, as his election was 
desired by the lumber-dealers of the district. 



1 64 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

I was determined that the matter should not 
rest there, and that Major Camp's name should not 
go before the caucus in that way. So I rose and 
said: "Mr. Chairman, on behalf of Mr. Camp, I 
wish to say that everything that has been said in 
behalf of Mr. Lane we agree with. He is honest, 
capable, and popular, and his reelection doubtless 
would give entire satisfaction. But when the 
Civil War broke out, it found Major Camp holding 
this office that he had been elected to a few 
months before : and when the nation called its 
sons to arms in its defense, he threw up this fat 
office, and entered the army as a private soldier, at 
eleven dollars a month; and for gallantry in the 
field he was promoted at the close of the war to be 
major of his regiment. During those four years 
he marched in the rain, slept in the mud, faced 
Confederate bullets, while all this time Mr. Lane — 
without any disrespect to him — was staying at 
home, eating three square meals a day and at night 
sleeping on a bed of down, and drawing a salary 
of four thousand dollars a year. And now this 
gallant soldier, Major Camp, comes to us and asks 
us to reelect him to the position that he left to 
defend his nation's flag. That he is just as 
capable as Mr. Lane, no one will deny. And 
now, what are we going to do about it? Gentle- 
men, I remember, and some of you remember, 
when we marched down Pennsylvania Avenue at 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 165 

the time of the great review, we saw a banner 
stretched across the avenue with this inscription: 
'The nation owes one debt it can never pay, and 
that is the debt it owes its soldiers.' Gentlemen, 
it is the boast of the Republican party that it is 
the friend of the soldier; that boast will be tested 
to-night, and what shall be the answer? ' Your 
votes will tell." 

A vote was immediately taken, and Major 
Camp was nominated by a vote of thirty-five to 
eighteen. Immediately after the ballot had been 
taken we adjourned. 

The senator whom I have already mentioned 
came to me and said: "Your man went through 
a kiting, didn't he ?" 

I said, " He went through all right. " 

But the next morning while I was sitting in my 
seat, a leading lumberman came to me in great 
excitement and said: ''Do you know what you 
have done? Do you know what you have done?" 

I replied, " Nothing very alarming, I hope. " 

He said, "You have, by defeating Mr. Lane, 
offended the entire lumber interest of your district." 

" Do you know Major Camp? " I asked. 

"Yes," he replied, "I have always known 
him." 

I said, "Well, is he honest?" 

"Yes." 

" Is he capable?" 



1 66 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

"Yes," he replied, "but we like Mr. Lane 
better personally." 

"Well," I said, "I like Major Camp better 
personally, and I take the responsibility of the 
whole matter." 

He said, "He shall not be elected." 

An attempt was made by Lane's friends to 
make a bargain with the Democrats, and they 
succeeded so far as to postpone the election for a 
week; but during the week they heard from their 
constituents, and Major Camp was triumphantly 
elected. 

A few days afterward the legislature adjourned, 
and I am sure that my term in the body 
demonstrated the fact that I was utterly wanting 
in the qualities that go to make up a successful 
politician. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 167 



CHAPTER XVlll. 

Elected to the Right Worthy Grand Lodge of Good Templars — The 
persons whom I met there — Go to England — Lecture in England, 
Scotland, Ireland, and Wales — Return to the United States and begin 
my career as a lecturer for the Good Templars. 

A few weeks after the legislature adjourned, 
at the session of the Grand Lodge of Good 
Templars of Minnesota, I was chosen as a repre- 
sentative to the Right Worthy Grand Lodge by a 
unanimous vote. The session was held in Detroit, 
the latter part of May. Upon arriving and enter- 
ing that body, I found it thus constituted. 

The Right Worthy Grand Templar was Hon. 
Samuel D. Hastings of Wisconsin. Mr. Hastings, 
if my memory serves me correctly, was born in 
Massachusetts, and came to Wisconsin at a very 
early day, settling in La Crosse. He early identi- 
fied himself with the anti-slavery cause, and was 
elected to the legislature by that party. In that 
legislature he found himself associated with Mr. 
Willard, of Rock County, who belonged to the 
same party as himself. Mr. Willard was the 
father of Frances Willard. Mr. Hastings assisted 
in the organization of the Republican party, and 
was one of its charter members. Afterward he 
was four times elected State treasurer. He early 
became a member of the Order of Good Templars, 



1 68 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

was elected Grand Chief Templar of his State, and 
afterward four or five times elected Right Worthy- 
Grand Templar. He was also one of the organ- 
izers ot the Prohibition party, has been its candi- 
date for governor in Wisconsin, and a member of 
the national committee of the Prohibition party. 
All these years he has been an active member of 
the Good Templars, attending subordinate and 
grand lodges. More than twenty years ago he 
was sent by the Right Worthy Grand Lodge to 
extend our order in the islands of the Pacific. He 
visited Australia, New Zealand, and Tasmania, 
discharging his duties with that ability and satis- 
faction which have always characterized him. He 
is now eighty-four years old. He was never 
strong in body, but his mental powers do not show 
the slightest decadence. At the recent session of 
the Right Worthy Grand Lodge, at Toronto, 
Canada, as chairman of the committee on Worthy 
Grand Lodges, he drew up a report that excited 
the admiration of all. Educated, refined, pure, 
and noble — such is the life and characteristics of 
this grand old man. We hope that we may have 
the benefit of his life and ability for many years to 
come. 

The Right Worthy Grand Counselor was 
Judge James Black of Pennsylvania, a man of 
great legal attainments, and a natural philanthro- 






Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 169 

pist. He was the Prohibition candidate for the 
presidency in 1872. He has recently died. 

The Right Worthy Grand Secretary was Julius 
Spencer of Ohio. Mr. Spencer was the author of 
the Spencerian system of shorthand. He was an 
ideal secretary. He is now dead. 

Among the active members of that body at that 
time was Hon. Jonathan Orne, of Massachusetts, 
a man of fine ability and presence. He was after- 
ward elected the head of the order. He was a 
leading layman of the Universalist Church, a man 
of very captivating manners, and the best story- 
teller I ever heard. He died about six years ago. 
He was long a leading Prohibitionist in Massa- 
chusetts. 

Another prominent member of that body was 
Rev. John Russell of Michigan. Rev. Russell 
had long been recognized as one of the most 
prominent members and ministers of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. He was an early abolitionist, 
and a stanch Republican down to the organization 
of the Prohibition party. He was the father of the 
Prohibition party. It was • he who inaugurated 
the movement for the formation of the party. He 
was four or five times elected Grand Chief Templar 
of the Grand Lodge of Good Templars of Michigan, 
-and two or three times elected Right Worthy 
Grand Templar. Strong and mighty for the right, 
yet as loving and as tender as a child — I never 



lyo Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

knew a better man than John Russell; I reckon 
a better one never lived. He is living at the date 
of writing this book (1899) at the age of about 
eighty. 

Another was Hon. S. B. Chase of Pennsylvania. 
Mr. Chase had been Grand Chief Templar of Penn- 
sylvania, and for some years he had been at the 
head of the order in the nation. He was an attorney 
by profession, and in early life embraced the tem- 
perance cause and wrote the digest of the laws 
of the order. He has been for a long time con- 
sidered authority in Good Templar law, and is 
exceedingly winning in his ways. He is still living, 
and active in the work. He is the chancellor of 
the Good Templar course of study. 

Among the lady members of that body was 
Miss Frapces Gage. She had won great fame in 
the anti-slavery struggle, and later in the cause of 
woman suffrage. She was also prominent in 
Unitarian circles. She was a woman of decided 
ability, and a natural reformer and philanthropist. 

Another leading officer of that body was Miss 
Amanda Lane of Massachusetts, the Grand Vice- 
Templar, and a prominent member of the Univer- 
salist Church in Massachusetts. 

Another was Miss Amanda Way. This dis- 
tinguished sister was one of the pioneers of the 
order. She had been Grand Chief Templar in 
Indiana, Kansas, and Idaho. She was one of the 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 171 

leading crusaders of 1873. Broad in her views, a 
member, I think, of the Quakers, or Friends, she is 
the best-known and the best-loved woman of our 
order. 

I found myself to be the youngest member by 
some years in that body. And you can judge, sur- 
rounded as I was by these magnificent men and 
women, how I was impressed and enthused. 
It gave me an inspiration that has remained until 
this day. 

I now determined to take a trip to England. 
Carrying letters of introduction from leading tem- 
perance men of this country, I landed in England. 
I presented myself to John H. Roper, who was the 
president of the Prohibition Alliance of the United 
Kingdom. I am not sure that I have this title just 
right, but about right, anyhow. It had for its aim 
what its name signifies, and is one of the most 
powerful organizations I have ever known. Mr. 
Roper, who was at the head of it when I worked 
for it, was one of the ablest men I have ever 
met. Perfectly fearless, an able speaker, a 
natural-born leader, wise in all of his actions, he was 
indeed an ideal commander. I had the pleasure 
of renewing his acquaintance again in" 1876, at 
Louisville, Kentucky. He died some four or five 
years ago, active until the last. 

Another distinguished leader of this reform 
was Dr. F. R. Lees. Dr. Lees was a scholar, a 



172 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

scientist, a reformer, and an orator. His text- 
books on the temperance question are standard 
works of our reform. I had the pleasure of meeting- 
him again in this country in 1874, at Bloomington, 
Illinois. He has died but recently, remaining 
devoted to the cause to the last. 

I had a letter of introduction to a leading mem- 
ber of the Methodist Church. When I was given 
the letter, my friend, who was a Methodist minister, 
said: "Now this man, when I knew him twenty- 
five years ago, was a leading brewer in that part 
of England ; but in that day it was considered all 
right to be engaged in that business. He was a 
man of the highest integrity and a perfect Christian 
in his life. He has no doubt long since gone out 
of that business." 

Upon my arrival at his place of business, I 
found him not only a brewer, but he had the exclu- 
sive right to sell all the liquor for a square mile. 
He received me warmly and insisted I should 
make his house my home. I consented. When 
we went to dinner, as they called it in that country, 
I found his wife sitting in a large upholstered 
chair, drunk. We had prayers before eating, 
for they had prayers three times a day. When 
we knelt to pray the woman succeeded in turn- 
ing over, slipping part way out of the chair, 
and groaned while I was praying. When the 
prayers were over, I assisted in raising her and 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 173 

replacing her in the chair; for, while she could slip 
out of the chair, she could not slip back. She did 
not attempt to come to the table. The next 
morning I found her very sober, and very relig- 
ious indeed ; she wouldn't talk about anything 
except religion. She wanted to know of me if I 
had ever experienced the sanctifying power of the 
Holy Ghost. I told her I had; and she said, 
" Glory to God." But while she was talking to 
me she was drinking beer all the while. She said 
that I ought to be a preacher, but I rather thought 
I ought to get my call from a different source. 

On the third night I was to speak on temper- 
ance, and the minister of the parish — that is, the 
Wesleyan minister — called on me and talked an 
hour before the meeting time. His whole conver- 
sation was on religion, and he drank two quarts of 
beer while he was talking. He made the prayer 
at the temperance meeting, and the only allusion 
he made to the temperance question was to pray 
that God might have mercy upon a man who 
couldn't drink without getting drunk. The brewer 
presided at my meeting, and in his speech — and it 
was quite a speech — he lamented the curse of 
drunkenness, and said it was the desire of his 
heart to see the happy day when drunkenness 
would be unknown. 

My experience in that country was decidedly 
unique. Speaking in those days in England on 



174 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

temperance was very spicy. From the time you 
had started your meeting until you closed, it was 
cheering, hissing, and groaning. There was 
hardly a moment but some of these things were 
occurring, and sometimes all together; and some- 
times, to keep the speaker thoroughly awake to 
his subject, he was pelted with missiles. 

While I was there I visited one spot that was 
like an oasis in a desert, and, strange to say, it 
was in Ireland. In Tyrone County, if I remember 
correctly, in the beautiful town of Bessborough, — I 
think of about ten or twelve thousand inhabitants, 
— a town noted for the manufacture of fine Irish 
linens, I was a guest at the house of the principal 
manufacturer, Mr. Richardson. He was a mem- 
ber of the Friends, or Quaker Church. There was 
not what they called a public house in the entire 
town. This oasis covered altogether sixty-one 
square miles, and in that district they had scarcely 
any paupers at all, and crime was practically 
unknown. During the two weeks that I was in 
Bessborough, I never heard God's name profaned 
once — no fighting, no brawling, and no drunken- 
ness. It was indeed an ideal spot. 

In 1869 I returned to America. A convention 
had been called to organize the Prohibition party. 
It met in Farwell Hall, Chicago, The call had 
specified all those who favored the organization 
of the Prohibition party. But it was very soon 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 175 

ascertained that a large element had come to the 
convention determined that it should not be organ- 
ized. John Russell of Michigan was the temporary 
chairman. James Black of Pennsylvania was the 
permanent chairman. Both of those gentlemen 
sounded the key-note of party action. The lead- 
ing men of that convention were the two distin- 
guished gentlemen I have just mentioned, and 
Gerrit Smith of New York. 

Gerrit Smith was one of the wealthiest men of 
our country at that time. He had been a member 
of Congress from New York; he had distinguished 
himself in the battle against slavery; he had been a 
life-long total abstainer and prohibitionist. He 
wished to have the party named the Anti-Dram- 
shop party. It bore that name in New York for 
several years. Mr. Smith was a venerable looking 
man, with an abundance of white hair and white 
whiskers, and was at that time about seventy-five 
years ol age. 

Among others were Mr. Stephen Ransom of 
New Jersey, Thomas Cooper of Pennsylvania, Dr. 
Jewett of Connecticut, Gideon T. Stewart of Ohio, 
Dr. William Ross of Illinois, Jonathan Orne of 
Massachusetts, Hiram Price of Iowa, — now of 
Washington, D. C, and president of the National 
Anti-Saloon League, — John N. Stearns of New 
York, and many more whom I might mention. 



176 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

Those in favor of the organization of a political 
party were led by William Ross of Illinois, Gideon 
T. Stewart of Ohio, and John Russell of Michigan. 
The opposition was led by Hiram Price of Iowa, 
and Dr. Hatfield, a distinguished Methodist minister 
of Chicago. 

Dr. William Ross was one of the most popular 
orators I ever heard, and a great debater. He had 
been a temperance lecturer for forty years. He 
was an Englishman by birth, had been thoroughly 
educated, and had studied to be a doctor. About 
the time that he graduated, a tragedy had occurred 
which caused him to devote his lite to the temper- 
ance cause. He had a beautiful sister who had 
married an officer in the English army. Either the 
young English officer's dissipated life had broken 
her heart and she had died from the effects of it, 
or he had murdered her outright; I don't remember 
which, now. But her death was so sad that the 
doctor on her grave swore eternal enmity to strong 
drink. He had lectured all over the United States 
and Canada; he had faced mobs without number; 
he had been shot, stabbed and stoned ; his body 
was covered with scars, and yet at the age of sixty, 
when I met him, he was as strong as a lion and as 
handsome as Apollo. It was worth a lifetime to 
see him at that convention. I shall never forget it. 
The discussion ended at midnight on the 2nd 
of September, 1869, and was declared carried by a 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 177 

large majority. A large number of the delegates 
had been converted to the party idea by the dis- 
cussion. So at midnight, September 2nd, amid 
the singing of "Praise God from whom all 
blessings flow," by a thousand persons, the Prohi- 
bition party began its stormy career. 

I had been corresponding with Professor 
Wilkins, with the view of going to Illinois to work 
for the Independent Order of Good Templars. 
That was the beginning of a friendship and an 
intimacy that lasted for more than a quarter of a 
century. 

Professor Wilkins was born in the State of Ver- 
mont, of humble parentage, yet by his own energy 
and determination had achieved a fine education, 
graduating at Oberlin College, and taking a post- 
graduate course at the State University of Michigan, 
Ann Arbor. If I mistake not, he was one of the 
originators and founders of the Wesleyan College 
at Bloomington, and was for a long time one of its 
professors. While at Oberlin College he had 
imbibed an intense hatred of slavery and the liquor 
traffic. He early identified himself with the Free 
Soil party; helped to organize the Republican 
party, and was one of its stanchest supporters. 
He helped also to organize the Prohibition party. 
He early became identified with the Order of Good 
Templars, became the Grand Chief Templar of the 
State, and made one of the best of officers. In 



178 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

1874 he became the superintendent of the inebriate 
asylum in Chicago, known as the Washingtonian 
Home, and for eighteen years was at its head. 
While in that position he wrote a book called 
'The World's Greatest Curse." From a scientific 
standpoint, it is the ablest book on that question 
ever published. He was a man of the broadest 
culture, and with splendid natural abilities; he 
should have been one of the most noted men of our 
country, but his exceedingly modest and retiring 
disposition prevented. He had been very happy in 
his marriage. His wife was a beautiful, cultivated 
woman, who entered heartily into all of his work, 
and was in every way an ideal wife. He was also 
the founder of the "Cold-Water Templars," a 
juvenile temperance organization that now num- 
bers two hundred and fifty thousand members. 
It afterward took the name of juvenile Templars. 
It is worked in connection with Good Templary. 
Mr. Wilkins was a member of the Methodist 
Church. He and his wife professed the doctrine 
of Christian perfection, and in the twelve years that 
I was an inmate of their home, I never saw any- 
thing in their lives that was inconsistent with their 
profession. He died in the early part of 1894. 
At the time of his death he was seventy-three 
years old. His wife still lives. 

It was exceedingly fortunate for me, I think, to 
have known these good people, and I shall remem- 
ber them with the deepest sense of gratitude as 
long as I live. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 179 



CHAPTER XIX. 

The Grand Secretary — Other leaders of the Order — My first year's 
work as a lecturer — Result of my work. 

The Grand Secretary was J. K. Van Dorn of 
Quincy. Mr. Van Dorn had been a lifelong 
worker in the cause of reform. He was born in 
Massachusetts, and came to Quincy, Illinois, early 
in life, bringing with him his anti-slavery ideas. 
Quincy, Illinois, was rather an uncomfortable place 
for that stamp of men when he came there in the 
early thirties. The town is situated on the Missis- 
sippi River. Right across the river is the State of 
Missouri, then a slave State, and the town of 
Quincy at that time was composed very largely of 
people from the Southern States; so an abolitionist 
in that city was just about as popular as a leper 
would be : and yet, though a young business man, 
he boldly proclaimed his abolitionism; and from that 
time on his house became a depot for the under- 
ground railroad. The way of working the under- 
ground railroad was for the slaves to come across 
the river to Mr. Van Dorn's house, and Mr. Van 
Dorn would secrete them until he could convey 
them fifteen or twenty miles toward Canada, to 
another abolitionist; and that abolitionist would do 
the same thing, and so on. He told me once that 



i8o Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

his premises had been searched upon an average 
of once a month for twenty years, for runaway 
slaves; but they never succeeded in finding any, 
as all movements of the authorities were closely 
watched by other abolitionists, whose duty it was 
to inform him of any danger. For ten years prior 
to the Civil War there was an award of ten thous- 
and dollars on his head, offered by the authorities 
in Missouri. His wife used to playfully say that 
she knew where at any time she could get ten 
thousand dollars for her husband, which was more 
than most of the women of Quincy could say. 

And yet, wonderful as it may seem, he pros- 
pered in business and accumulated quite a fortune, 
which, I am sorry to say, was very largely swept 
away from him during the last days of his life in 
the panic of 1873. He was a noble man, true to 
his convictions, and was ready to die for them. 
He was Grand Secretary from 1867 until 1875, 
with the exception of a single year. He died in 
May, 1875. He was also Right Worthy Grand 
Treasurer for several years. 

Another prominent member of the Grand 
Ivodge was J. W. Nichols. Mr. Nichols had been 
one of the earliest workers in the order; was 
elected to the head of the order when but thirty 
years of age. He was a man of decided ability, a 
fine, logical speaker, and a successful editor. He 
is now living in Chicago. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. i8i 

I was g-iven a district of fifteen counties in which 
to work. My business was to lecture in behalf of 
old lodges, to organize new ones, and to promote 
the cause of temperance generally. I was so suc- 
cessful in my work that I was engaged for another 
year at an increased salary, and elected to repre- 
sent the Grand Lodge of Illinois in the Right 
Worthy Grand Lodge that met that year in 
St. Louis. 

The order now numbered half a million mem- 
bers, and the work everywhere was on an increase. 
Jonathan Orne of Massachusetts was Right 
Worthy Grand Templar; Julius Spencer of Ohio 
was still Right Worthy Grand Secretary. We 
had an exceedingly pleasant session. It was at 
this session that I met for the first time two young 
workers about my age, whom I became very 
much attached to; and our friendship has continued 
all these years. 

J. J. Hickman of Kentucky was already Grand 
Chief Templar of that State. He was, I think, as 
handsome a man as I ever saw. He was tall and 
graceful, his eyes were large and black, and his 
hair and mustache as dark as a raven's wing. He 
was very eloquent in speech; his voice was soft, 
sympathetic, and winning. He was seven times 
elected Right Worthy Grand Templar, always dis- 
charging his duties with rare fidelity and honor. 
But his great power was upon the platform; there 



1 82 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

he was king and without a peer. He is still living, 
but has been quite an invalid in the last few 
years, which has prevented him doing much work. 

And it was here also that I met Theodore D. 
Kanouse, then of Wisconsin. Brother Kanouse 
was born, I think, in the State of New Jersey. 
His father was a Presbyterian minister of eminence, 
his mother a cultured Christian woman of great 
force of character. She had twelve sons, and they 
are all living to-day, I think. The family came to 
Wisconsin in an early day, where they have always 
remained, with the exception of Theodore. - When 
the Civil War broke out, Theodore, then eighteen 
or nineteen years of age, entered the army and 
made a fine record for bravery and devotion to duty. 
He was very popular with his comrades for his 
charming personality. 

At the close of the war h.e returned home, 
where shortly after he became interested in the 
Good Templars: and then began his career in that 
order; one that has never been excelled by anyone, 
and, taking it all in all, has never been equaled. 
He was seventeen times elected Grand Chief 
Templar of Wisconsin, four times Grand Chief 
Templar of Dakota, four times Grand Chief Templar 
of California, and has just been elected for the 
fifth time. He was once elected, or chosen. Right 
Worthy Grand Marshal; once Right Worthy Grand 
Counselor; four times Right Worthy Grand 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 183 

Templar, the last time elected, refusing to serve. 
He is a natural-born leader of men; he is one of 
those remarkable men whom men love to follow ; 
he draws them to him wnth hooks of steel. He 
brought the order in Wisconsin to a remarkable 
degree of efficiency, that excited the admiration 
of all. 

He is not only powerful as a leader, but power- 
ful as a speaker. As soon as he is introduced to 
an audience, there is something about him that 
at once wins their undivided attention. He is so 
manly, so true, that one knowing him as I have 
for all of these years, can say truly, he never spoke 
an unmanly word and never harbored an unworthy 
thought. He was exceedingly happy in his marriage 
relations. His wife was a noble, cultured, devoted 
woman, fully worthy of such a noble husband. In 
addition to his Good Templar offices, he has filled 
other places of honor in civic trusts: secretary of 
the Board of Charity of Wisconsin for four years, 
and elected member of Congress from the State of 
South Dakota,* and also warden in the State's 
prison. While warden of the State's prison, he 
conducted it on the humane plan, and demonstrated 
the efficiency of that idea in treating criminals. 

Mr. Kanouse is now living at Glendale, Cali- 
fornia. He is an elder in the Presbyterian 



■•• Note :— South Dakota was not admitted into the union as a State 
at that time, so he failed to be seated. 



184 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

Church, and Superintendent of the Sunday-school. 
He is a deeply religious man. During his serious 
spell of sickness last spring, prayers were said for 
him in the churches all over the State: such is the 
deep love and affection that people everywhere 
have for the man. 

During the year 1870 I took a trip through the 
South, speaking in the States of Georgia, Missis- 
sippi, Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, Florida, and 
North and- South Carolina; and this trip changed 
my views touching some matters of which I shall 
now speak. 

When I came out of the army I attached 
myself to the Republican party, as I believed it 
was the more progressive of the two parties, 
though I utterly disapproved of the bitter, vindic- 
tive spirit that I found so prevalent in the Northern 
portion of our country. That such a spirit should 
exist, I was not surprised; but that good and 
enlightened men should seek to keep it alive by 
making "inflammatory speeches, amazed me. 

I thought that the negroes in the South, how- 
ever, should be enfranchised ; but that, at the same 
time, there should be no laws enacted discrimina- 
ting against any one in the South on account of his 
participation in the rebellion. But the reconstruc- 
tion measure went still further. While it enfran- 
chised the ignorant masses in the South, it prac- 
tically disfranchised most of the intelligent ones. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 185 

In the words of Senator Doolittle of Wisconsin, it 
organized -hell all through the South. I found 'that 
unprincipled men from the North had gone down 
there and organized the black people to fight their 
late masters and oppose them in every way. In 
other words, it set the two races at each other's 
throats, and has produced a feeling between the 
two races that will subside God only knows when : 
and my opinion to-day is that the worst pos- 
sible thing that could have befallen the colored 
people was their universal enfranchisement at the 
close of the Civil War; and this is the view taken, 
I see, by Booker T. Washington, and other 
scholars and thinkers of the colored race. 

At the session of the Grand Lodge in 1871, I 
was chosen Grand Worthy Treasurer. I have 
always refused to be elected to office in the order, 
with the exception of the year when I was elected 
Grand Worthy Treasurer, and two years when I 
served as Grand Worthy Counselor. Each time I 
was chosen by a unanimous vote: such was the 
universal desire that I should be on the executive 
board. I have no taste whatever for office of any 
kind — indeed, an actual distaste for it ; and for this 
reason I have refused again and again any position 
whatever, except the times above mentioned. I 
am satisfied that I can do more on the platform for 
the order which I love so well, than anywhere else. 
I have consented to be elected several times to the 



1 86 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

Right Worthy Grand Lodge, for the reason that I 
am deeply interested in the legislation there ; yet 
I have repeatedly declined election, excepting 
when some matter of the greatest importance was 
coming up. 

When the Grand Lodge met in Winona, in 
1872, a crisis had arisen for our order, that caused 
us great anxiety. In 1867 the Grand Lodge was 
induced to start a newspaper in Chicago, that 
should be the organ of the order. The order at 
that time numbered forty thousand members in this 
State, and no doubt an organ was needed; but it 
should have been a private enterprise, and then it 
would have received all the diligence and care of 
one who was looking after his own personal 
interests. A publication committee of five mem- 
bers was chosen to conduct the paper, and the 
result was that cliques grew up in the order, with 
which the paper took sides. A fight was then 
made about the paper, and the result was a debt of 
twelve thousand dollars, and the membership 
decreased until, when we met in Grand Lodge in 
that year, we found a membership of about thirty- 
five hundred and a debt of about eight thousand 
dollars. A proposition was even made to repu- 
diate the debt altogether, throw up the charter, 
organize under a new charter, and thus avoid our 
just obligations. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 187 

The Grand Worthy Counselor who was presid- 
ing at that session stoutly opposed the suggestion. 
He said such an action would be disgraceful in the 
extreme. He said it could be paid, and should be 
paid. The Grand Lodge took him at his word 
and elected him Grand Chief Templar. That 
man was Uriah Copp. I had fully sympathized 
with him in his views, so I immediately went to 
him and pledged him I would stand by him, and 
we would pay the debt. That year I traveled 
nine thousand miles, delivered three hundred and 
fifty lectures, and received all told one hundred 
and forty-five dollars. This paid about one-sixth 
of my traveling expenses. We did not accomplish 
a great deal the first year ; but we stopped the 
downward course and began to increase our mem- 
bership, and in four years' time every dollar of the 
debt had been paid, and our merjibership had more 
than doubled. 

I wish to say a few words in regard to this 
worthy brother. He was born in New Hampshire, 
and comes of that strong Puritan stock that has 
given to our country so many grand charac- 
ters. He was educated at Hamilton College, 
New York; studied law at the law school at 
Albany, where Roscoe Conkling, the celebrated 
statesman, was the dean. After graduating, he 
came West and settled in Loda, Illinois, where he 
began the practice of law. He was an active, 



1 88 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

* Christian man; a member of the Congregational 
Church. In politics he was a stanch Democrat; 
indeed he was stanch in everything that he 
believed in or professed. At the outbreak of the 
Civil War he joined the army as a lieutenant in 
one of the Illinois batteries. He served about a 
year, when he had a severe attack of inflammatory 
rheumatism, rendering him unfit for duty, and he 
was mustered out. He had always taken a deep 
interest in the cause of temperance, and when the 
lodge of Good Templars was organized in his 
town in 1860 or '61, he was one of its charter 
members. That lodge has remained upon our 
rolls to this day, largely through the influence and 
exertions of brother Copp. 

In 1867 he returned to New England and was 
gone for some weeks, when he brought home as 
his wife one of the most beautiful and accomplished 
women I ever saw. She is a highly intellectual 
woman, versed in all the literature of the day, a 
thoroughly devoted wife, and a splendid mother. 

I met him for the first time in 1870 in Grand 
Lodge, and from that time to this our friendship 
has been of the closest kind. He was for some 
eight or nine years Right Worthy Grand Treas- 
urer. Whatever position he has filled, from the 
most unimportant office in the subordinate lodge, 
to the most important office in the international 




Uriah Copp, Jr. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 189 

lodge, he has always discharged his duties with the 
same fidelity and strictness. 

He was a man of the rarest integrity. After 
knowing him for more than thirty years so inti- 
mately, I do not believe it would be possible for 
Uriah Copp to falsify or deviate one hair's breadth 
from the path of rectitude and right. I would trust 
him as I would an angel. He was a man so strong 
and brave that I have seen him under the most 
trying circumstances, yet he never would give 
an inch to what he thought was wrong or unjust. 
And yet he was shrewd in his actions, and it would 
be impossible to circumvent him in any way. He 
was so stalwart in all his convictions, that his posi- 
tion upon any question at any time was always 
known. When he entered the Right Worthy Grand 
Lodge, he was so careful for the funds of the order 
that it gave a general impression that he was 
penurious, and yet nothing could be further from the 
truth. He had the idea, derived from his New 
England training, of carefulness for every penny of 
money; but when he was assured that it would be 
worthily used, he was liberal in the extreme. 

It was worth one's while to spend time in 
his society. He was so strong and invigorating 
that one went forth from him feeling stronger to 
perform every duty of life. He was powerful on 
the floor as a debater, generally winning his case 
in every issue he ever made, either in the Grand 



190 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

Lodge or the Supreme Lodge. During the twenty- 
seven years that he was Grand Chief Templar, in 
the many appealed cases which he had to decide, 
he never had a case reversed either by the Grand 
Lodge or the Supreme body. It is a record 
never equaled by any other Grand Chief Templar 
in our body. During the entire twenty-seven 
years that Mr. Copp was Grand Chief Templar, 
he absolutely refused to receive one single penny 
of compensation, yet he traveled thousands of 
miles each year and spent more than half of his 
time in the field. He declined a reelection at the 
recent session, carrying with him the love and 
esteem of the entire body. 

In the latter part of 1873, I read in one of the 
daily papers that in Washington Court House, 
Ohio, the women were undertaking to pray the 
saloon-keepers out of their business. I laughed at 
the idea, and little did I think at the time of the 
mighty movement of which it was the prelude. It 
went on from town to town, city to city, until it 
eventuated in the organization of the Woman's 
Christian Temperance Union. 

The following year it began to take shape in 
the more organized form, and a convention was 
called to meet in the city of Bloomington, Illinois. 
It was held in the old Methodist church. I 
remember sitting in the gallery with a friend of 
mine, watching their movements. The women 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 191 

were so awkward in their attempt to do business, 
yet so devout in spirit. I remember a friend ask- 
ing me what I thought would come of it. "Oh!" 
I said, "something will come of it ; some good will 
be accomplished." But little did I think of the 
mighty, wonderful good it was destined to accom- 
plish. 

The Right Worthy Grand Lodge of Good 
Templars also assembled that year in the city of 
Bloomington. The body had now become inter- 
national: there was not only the United States and 
Canada represented, but England, Scotland, 
Ireland, Wales, Australia, New Zealand, and Tas- 
mania. The prime minister of New Zealand headed 
the New Zealand delegation. J. J. Hickman was 
Right Grand Templar; Joseph Malins of England 
was Right Grand Counselor ; Rev. George 
Gladstone of Scotland, the brother of the celebrated 
statesman, William E. Gladstone, headed the 
Scotland delegation, and was Right Grand Chaplain. 
Joseph Malins was Grand Chief Templar of 
England, an office that he has held since 1871, and 
at this time he is at the head of the entire order. 

Brother Malins is a remarkable man. Com- 
ing from the humble walks of life, being a 
painter by trade, he came to America in 1869; 
first to Canada, then to the United States. Shortly 
after his arrival in the United States he became 
a member of our order. He became very much 



192 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

enthused with it. Circumstances drew him back 
to England, where he secured a commission and 
organized the first lodge in England. The order 
spread very rapidly throughout England, Scotland, 
Ireland, and Wales; then, through his instru- 
mentality, throughout all the British Provinces. 
He proved to be just the man for the time and for 
the work. He is the great temperance missionary 
of the world; for it has been through his instru- 
mentality that the order has not only been pushed 
in all the British Provinces, but on the Continent of 
Europe, through all Scandinavia and Germany, 
and into the armies and navies of the United 
States and England. When we contemplate what 
Mr. Malins has done, it only shows what one 
person who is possessed with an idea can do. 
Mr. Malins is almost idolized by the order in those 
countries. 

At the session in Bloomington, an amendment 
was made to the constitution of the Supreme body, 
by which additional grand lodges could be organ- 
ized in territories already occupied, by the consent 
of the. parent Grand Lodge. This caused a good 
deal of dissatisfaction in the delegation from 
England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, and almost 
caused a rupture of the body, and laid the founda- 
tion for the trouble the year after. 

The next year the session was held at Louis- 
ville, Kentucky, J. J. Hickman, presiding. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 193 

The trouble arose over this question: When 
the order was introduced into the South, just at the 
close of the war, of course the colored man was not 
thought of. The union of the two races in this 
country in one order is wholly impracticable. In the 
Northern States, where the colored population was 
small, separate lodges had been organized for the 
negroes in some places; and possibly in some 
places, where only a few families lived, two or three 
colored persons might have been admitted to 
white lodges. But the presence of a colored per- 
son in a Lodge of Good Templars in the South 
would have been like a bomb of nitroglycerin, 
and would have blown the institution sky-high. 
Our friends in the South, in order that the black 
population might be reached, had organized a sepa- 
rate organization amongst them, with a simpler 
form of ceremony and ritual, that was more suited 
to them in their condition. (In Europe, where the 
negro is hardly ever seen, of course there is very 
little or no prejudice against him.) 

Immediately after the opening of the session, 
brother Malins presented an amendment to the 
constitution, that declared that wherever the order 
was denied to any race or people, that as far as 
that people was concerned, it should be considered 
unoccupied territory, and that any grand lodge 
could mission the territory ; the meaning of which 
was that brother Malins could go into that territory 



194 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

and organize his lodges among the colored people. 

Brother Oronhyatekha offered as a substitute 
for Malin's amendment what is known as 
Oronhyatekha's amendment. It declared that the 
Order of Good Templars was intended for all, and 
that where a charter was refused solely because 
the applicants were people of color, it should be 
considered a violation of their trust, and that the 
charter of the grand lodge so refusing should be 
revoked. 

This substitute was adopted. Whereupon the 
delegations from England, Scotland, Ireland, and 
Wales, and some of the British Provinces, withdrew ; 
and this schism also had some sympathy in our own 
country, but to a limited extent. It led to a long 
war between the two sections of the order, which' 
lasted until 1887, when the order reunited. The 
result of this secession matter was this : that the 
lodges which had been existing among the colored 
people in the Southern States were abandoned. Our 
order had been exceedingly popular in the 
South, and included some of the foremost citizens, 
who, regarding the adoption of the Oronhyatekha 
amendment as a threat that they must admit the 
colored man into their lodges, or their charters 
would be revoked, many of them withdrew from 
the order; so that only a skeleton remained of 
our once powerful body in that part of the country. 
And at the time of the reunion, in 1887, brother 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 195 

Malins candidly confessed his inability to establish 
the order among the colored people of the South, 
and said he had spent fifteen thousand dollars in 
gold in the Southern States, and had only eighteen 
hundred members to show for it. 

This shows that reformers should be practical, 
like other people, and adapt themselves to the 
situation as they find it. 

In June, 1875, I attended the National Temper- 
ance Convention that was held in Farwell Hall, 
Chicago. It was presided over by Hiram Price of 
Iowa. It was a very interesting, and yet stormy, 
session. The issue was between the friends of 
independent political action and those who were 
opposed. 

It was here that I saw Dr. Ross for the last 
time. I never saw him looking better, and he was 
very active ; he took a leading part in the debates, 
and gave every evidence of many years of useful- 
ness, yet he died the following December of 
Bright's disease, at the age of sixty-three years. 

It was here, too, that I met for the first time 
Miss Frances Willard. She was the chairman of 
the enrolling committee. I saw that she had my 
name wrong, so I went to her to have the correc- 
tion made. I had heard of her before as an 
educator. It was under these circumstances that 
an acquaintance began which lasted through her 
lifetime. She was at that time about thirty-five 



196 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

years of age, and was just beginning a career 
which made her immortal. Her personality was 
very charming. It is said of Queen Elizabeth 
that at court she was full of her foibles and flirta- 
tions and vanities, but that when she entered the 
council room she laid them all aside, and was 
every bit a sovereign and a stateswoman. Miss 
Willard's heart was always a girl's heart, full of 
love, affection, and sentiment ; but her head was 
always the head of a stateswoman. She had 
singular powers on the platform; she never seemed 
to me to be a great orator, and I have seen many 
that seemed her superior, but with Webster's 
definition of what constitutes an orator, she was 
unexcelled. She could move and convince an 
audience as I have never known any one else to do. 
At the National Prohibition Convention at 
Indianapolis, I saw an example of her wonderful 
power. There was a great deal of division of sen- 
timent in our party as to the advisability of putting 
woman suffrage into the platform. The conven- 
tion was composed of about fourteen hundred dele- 
gates, and they were nearly equally divided on 
that question when we met. Those of us who 
were in favor of putting it in our platform only 
claimed forty or fifty majority. She addressed 
the convention the first night on that subject, 
and took it by storm. So, when the final 
vote was taken on the question in the convention, 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 197 

there was hardly enough left of the opposition to 
be counted. 

I was very much attached to Miss Willard, and 
when her death was announced, I, with thousands 
of others who had known her and loved her, wept 
at the bereavement. I was one of the pall-bearers 
at her funeral. It was a bitter cold day in the 
middle of February. Her body lay in state at 
Willard Hall. Thousands stood on the streets all 
day — men and women, old and young, rich and 
poor — to get a chance to look upon the lace of one 
who loved everyone, and had worked for everyone 
with all the energy of a great soul. 

In this National Temperance Convention, where 
I first met Miss Willard, she introduced a resolu- 
tion declaring that where the question was one ot 
temperance alone, that women should have the 
ballot. The resolution was adopted, but it caused 
a hot discussion, many women opposing it, declar- 
ing they could do all they wanted to do by prayer 
alone. 

During the discussion the celebrated Anna 
Dickinson was seen in the convention, and was 
called upon to speak. She began by saying that 
she was not a member of the convention, and was 
not in sympathy at all with the object of the con- 
vention; yet in this question of suffrage she had a 
good deal of interest. She said that one lady had 
said that she didn't care for the ballot, that she 



198 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

could do more with prayer. She said: "Let us 
illustrate that point. Supposing there was a certain 
town where the liquor question was an issue, and 
the temperance people should meet in convention 
and nominate a ticket, and the liquor men should 
also nominate a ticket; but when election day 
came, the liquor men would go to the polls and 
vote for their ticket, and the temperance men, 
instead of going to the polls, would go to the 
church and pray for their ticket, instead of voting : 
which ticket, in the judgment of this convention, 
would be elected?" The convention saw the 
point, cheered lustily, and adopted the resolution. 
In the spring of 1876, as chairman of the Pro- 
hibition State Committee of Illinois, I called the 
convention to meet in Chicago, to nominate a 
State and electoral ticket. The Prohibitionists 
already had a ticket in the field for President. 
Green Clay Smith of Kentucky had been nomi- 
nated for President, and Professor Thompson of 
Ohio for Vice-President. The convention was to 
be a mass convention: just ten persons came. I 
took them to a Good Templar hall, at 310 West 
Madison Street, and locked the door to keep the 
reporters out, so they would not make fun of us 
through the papers. We proceeded to nominate 
a full ticket, with Dr. James F. Simpson of Greene 
County for governor. Every man in the conven- 
tion was nominated for something. It was a very 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 199 

harmonious convention. There was no caucusing 
nor trades nor combines ; it was an ideal con- 
vention. 

That night at my boarding-house (I was then 
living in Chicago), a reporter of the Tribu7ie found 
me and said he had been hunting for our conven- 
tion all day. I laughingly told him I didn't doubt 
it; that had it been a Democratic or Republican 
convention, he would have known just where to 
look for it — adjacent to some liquor saloon or beer- 
garden. He wanted to know where we met. I 
told him at Garden City Hall. 

He said, '*Why, that is not a large hall." 

I told him it was not a large convention. He 
wanted to know what we did. I gave him a list of 
our candidates nominated, the new State central 
committee appointed, and resolutions adopted. 
Then he asked a question that I didn't want him 
to ask, and that was, how many delegates there 
were in the convention. 

I said, "What number?" 

He said, "Yes." 

I said, "Three hundred and ten;" that was the 
number of the street where the convention was 
held. 

So the next morning- the Tribune had it in 

o 

great head-lines: "The Prohibitionists hold a State 
Convention and nominate a full ticket. Three hun 
dred and ten delegates attended." But what 



2 00 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

amazed me was who had misinformed the reporter 
as to the number of delegates. But as the state- 
ment was of such slight importance, I did not think 
it worth while to correct it; so I let it go. 

That fall our Grand Lodge of Good Templars 
met in the city of Abingdon. Brother Copp was 
reelected Grand Chief Templar. Brother Cyrus 
W. Bassett was chosen Grand Secretary. 

The years of 1877 and 1878 witnessed a great 
upheaval throughout the country in behalf of the 
temperance reform. It was led by Francis 
Murphy and Dr. Henry A. Reynolds. 

Francis Murphy was born in Ireland. When a 
young boy he came to this country, became dissi- 
pated, and finally became a saloon-keeper. While 
keeping a saloon he got into some trouble, and was 
sent to jail. While in jail he was converted, and 
when he came out began his career as a tem- 
perance lecturer. His keen Irish wit and intense 
earnestness made him a success from the beginning. 
I think he began his temperance work in about 
1874. His mode of work was with the blue ribbon; 
that is, he would have men sign the pledge and 
then wear a bow of blue ribbon; so it was called 
the "Blue-ribbon Movement." He had worked 
some two or three years this way with great success: 
but in 1877 the real boom started, and soon the 
country was afiame with it; and in two years 
millions had signed this pledge. This brought 



^x 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 201 

into the field a large number of new workers — 
reformed men. The most notable among them 
were R. W. Crampton of Illinois, A. C. Campbell 
of Illinois, C. J. Holt of Illinois (Mr. Holt is still 
actively at work in the cause), George W. Woodford 
of Illinois, James Dunn of Pennsylvania, and others 
I might speak of. And the cause of temperance 
received an impetus that was felt in all the ramifi- 
cations of life. 

Dr. Reynolds came of a different strata. A 
thorough, educated gentleman, by profession a 
doctor, he had become addicted to strong drink; 
and upon reformation began his work the same as 
Mr. Murphy. Their pledges were identical, but 
Dr. Reynolds used the red ribbon. The men and 
modes were entirely different. Mr. Murphy in his 
style of speaking was fiery, vehement, electrifying. 
Tears and laughter characterized his meetings, 
which were carried on in the old revival style. 
Mr. Reynolds spoke calmly, dispassionately, with- 
out any excitement whatever, using none of the 
claptrap of the revivalists, but appealing to people's 
reason; and yet his success was just as pronounced 
as Mr. Murphy's. 

Mr. Murphy is still living, •and at work in the 
good cause. His two bright sons, Thomas and 
Edward, have been very successful workers in the 
cause. 



202 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. j 



Mr. Reynolds is still alive, residing in Michi- 
gan, editing a paper. He is an ardent Prohibi- 
tionist, he and his paper supporting at the last 
presidential election Mr. Bentley, the free-silver 
Prohibition candidate. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 203 



CHAPTER XX. 

Kentucky — George W. Bain — T. B. Demaree — Progress of the work 
during 1878 and 1879 — My marriage — Work in Wisconsin — Right Worthy 
Grand Lodge of Good Templars 1879, etc. 

Kentucky is a State, it is said, noted for its 
handsome women, good whiskey, and fast horses. 
I think I will change that a little, and say Ken- 
tucky is celebrated for its handsome women, its 
brilliant men, and fine horses; for, surely, I never 
traveled in a State where I met so many fine- 
looking ladies as in Kentucky; and what noble 
sons she has given to the nation! Henry Clay, 
John J. Crittenden, Abraham Lincoln, George W. 
Bain, J. J. Hickman, T. B. Demaree, and J. T. Long. 

1 met George W. Bain the first time at the 
Bloomington session of the Right Worthy Grand 
Lodge, in 1875. He was probably at that time about 
thirty-two or thirty-three years of age. It seems 
that he never attempted to speak in public until 
after he was thirty years of age. I do not know 
what his occupation was prior to that time. It is 
said that he had won a reputation for being the 
best superintendent of Sunday-schools in Lexing- 
ton, his home. The first time that he ever spoke 
in public was at a Good Templar picnic. Other 
speakers had spoken, and some one insisted that 



204 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

Bain should get up and talk. They finally suc- 
ceeded in getting him out, and he made such a 
success of it that he had calls from other 
points, and his reputation was soon made. Cer- 
tainly for the last twenty years he has been recog- 
nized as one of our foremost orators. I do 
not know of anyone more popular than he. His 
eloquence is as genial as the sunshine. Of all the 
orators that we have to-day upon the platform, in 
my opinion very few equal him, and none excel him. 
A gentleman connected with one of our lecture 
bureaus, a few weeks ago told me that he could 
supply Bain with all the dates he could use dur- 
ing the year, at one hundred and fifty dollars 
a night, provided he would agree to let the 
liquor traffic alone. But he will not do that. He 
hates the traffic so badly that, whatever subject he 
speaks upon, he will always give it a dig. Know- 
ing Mr. Bain as I do, I believe he would prefer 
this liberty at sixty dollars a night, rather than 
to speak for a thousand dollars a night without 
the liberty to speak out. George W. Bain's name 
will stand high in the annals of our country in all 
ages to come, for the noble work he has done in 
the temperance cause. 

Colonel T. B. Demaree is another one of Ken- 
tucky's sons who has been one of our most indefat- 
igable workers in the temperance field. As an 
organizer he is a marvel. He has been the Grand 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 205 

Chief Templar of Kentucky for many years, also 
Right Worthy Grand Counselor. 

Brother J. T. Long is another one of Ken- 
tucky's successful workers. Brother Long entered 
the work during the period of the ribbon uprising, 
and his first work was along that line. Finding 
out afterward that the temperance work needed a 
closer organization, he entered the Good Templar 
field, and in that field his success has been marked. 
He has spoken in nearly all of the States in the 
Union, never failing of success. He is very hand- 
some in person, probably six feet, two or three 
inches high, weighing perhaps two hundred and 
twenty-five pounds. Wherever he might go, his 
presence would command respect. He is a mag- 
nificent speaker, always holding his audience 
enthralled, and winning them with his eloquence. 

The years of 1877-79 were the most profit- 
able years for the temperance cause along all 
lines. All the temperance organizations were 
putting forth their utmost endeavor, and old King 
Alcohol was everywhere pushed to the wall. My 
work during those years was in the State of Illi- 
nois. Other States called for me, but I chose to 
remain in this State, working for the Order of 
Good Templars. 

On June 3rd, 1879, I was united in marriage to 
Miss Lydia Gertrude Lemen. Miss Lemen was 
born in Salem, Marion County, Illinois, January 2nd, 



2o6 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

1851. She was educated in the public schools 
of Salem, studied a few years in the Young Ladies' 
Seminary of that town, and graduated at Elmira 
College, Greenville, Illinois, in the class of 1876. 

Her father I never met, as he had died a year 
or two before I became acquainted with the family. 
He was said to be a man of sterling worth and deep 
piety, and a member of the Baptist Church. 

Mrs. Lemen was one of the greatest and best 
women I ever knew. She was born, I think, in 
Massachusetts, raised in New Hampshire, andgrad- 
uated from New Hampton Academy, I think about 
1832. She was brought West to work in behalf 
of the educational interests of the Baptist Church. 
She was one of the founders of Shurtleff College, at 
Alton, Illinois, and one of its first instructors, being 
the first of her sex that ever held that position in 
this country, and, perhaps, in the world. She was 
for years the preceptress of the Young Ladies' Sem- 
inary, at Salem, Illinois, and was compelled to 
retire from that institution on account of her pro- 
nounced anti-slavery views. She was an original 
abolitionist of the Wendell Phillips school, and of 
course a prohibitionist. She worked for every 
good cause; she hated every evil. The weak and 
the oppressed always found in her a friend; whether 
they were white or black, red or yellow, learned or 
ignorant, good or bad, it was all the same to her. 
She could only see the man and the woman, and 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 207 

she was ready to help them. The last years ot 
her life were spent very largely in the temperance 
work. In the summer before she died, though she 
was eighty-three at the time, she was president of 
the county Woman's Christian Temperance Union, 
teacher in the Sunday-school, secretary of the For- 
eign Missionary Society, a correspondent of many 
religious and temperance papers, teacher of a pri- 
vate school, and spent a part of her time lecturing 
on temperance. She so impressed her personality 
on her children that they all believed what she 
believed, and are working for that to which she 
devoted her life. She died January 12th, 1892, 
at the age of eighty-three years and eight months. 

Her family consisted of three children. The 
oldest daughter, Mrs. Helen Denny, is a leading 
woman of the Woman's Christian Temperance 
Union, and a lecturer of great acceptability. She 
has lectured in every part of the Union. Her hus- 
band, Colonel W. N. Denny, is a leading man in 
Indiana, a veteran of the Civil War. 

The son. Rev. J. G. Lemen, after graduating 
at Harvard University, began the practice of law; 
then became a minister, and then a journalist. 
He is now at the head of the Christian Home, 
Council Bluffs, Iowa. That institution is con- 
ducted upon the George Muller plan of England, 
depending entirely upon the gifts that God in 
some mysterious way bestows upon it. Gifts come 



2o8 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

in all the way from one penny to five thousand 
dollars. He began his work with a house of one 
story and a half; he has now thirty cottages, a 
chapel, and other buildings, with more than three 
hundred inmates, coming from almost all of the 
States of the Union. Mr. Lemen is a man of great 
ability — minister, doctor, lawyer, orator, philan- 
thropist, and reformer. 

The fruit of our marriage has been two chil- 
dren. Mary, the older, is nineteen. She has 
been for two years a student at Forest Park Uni- 
versity, St. Louis ; one year at the Stevens Col- 
lege, at Columbia, Missouri. She is a beautiful 
girl, all that her father's heart could desire. 

My boy, John, was born October 3rd, 1882; 
died April 5th, 1895. He was a beautiful boy, 
my pride and joy. His head was all covered with 
ten thousand clustering curls; he had large black 
eyes. The boy was in every way as beautiful as a 
poet's dream. He was a great student, and loved 
books. Before he was twelve years old he had the 
reputation in our little town of being the best 
posted in history of anyone in the town. He was 
naturally very religious. He died at his uncle's 
house in Council Bluffs, where he was visiting. 
He was sick only a few days with brain fever. 

Shortly after our marriage I sent my wife off 
on her wedding trip to the East, for I had 
already engaged myself to work in Wisconsin for 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 209 

the Good Templars. The Good Templars of 
Wisconsin had purchased a big tent, and were 
determined to do Good Templar missionary work 
in the lumber regions of that State. My first point 
was at Chippewa Falls, then at Humbird, and 
then at Lisbon. It was at Lisbon I first became 
associated with John B. Finch. This great leader 
and speaker was to be associated with me during 
the meetings of the summer. 

John B. Finch was born in New York, at 
Cortland. His people were exceedingly poor. 
He early evinced a desire for books and school. 
Unaided he secured a fine education, read law, 
was admitted to the bar; and had he stuck to his 
profession, he would have risen high. He became 
very much interested in the cause of temperance, 
and soon won a splendid reputation as a speaker. 
He went to Nebraska in 1877, and swept that State 
like a cyclone, doing a work for the cause of tem- 
perance that will never be forgotten. 

I had met him at the Right Worthy Grand 
Lodge a few weeks before this, but did not become 
much acquainted with him there. But our 
acquaintance formed at Lisbon lasted until the 
day of his death. From the time I met him at 
Lisbon he rose rapidly, so that within two years 
he stood without a peer in the world. At the 
Pittsburg Prohibition Convention, in 1884, he was 
elected chairman of the national committee, and 



2IO Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

conducted the campaign of that year with signal 
ability that excited the admiration even of the 
leaders of the old parties. 

He was a wonderful man. I cannot describe his 
powers; he was simply indescribable. As an illus- 
tration of his versatility I will give an instance. 
He was with me at the funeral of Cyrus W. Bassett, 
at Abingdon, in 1883. Brother Bassett had 
requested, a few days before he died, that I should 
deliver the funeral address. When I rose to begin 
the address, my feelings overcame me, and I could 
not say a word. I begged of Mr. Finch to take up 
the discourse. He did so, without a moment's prep- 
aration, and delivered an oration upon the immor- 
tality of the soul. It was such a masterly presen- 
tation of that subject, that the thousand people 
who listened to him sat enthralled for an hour. 

That night the ministers of the city came to 
him and requested his discourse for publication. 
" Why, " he said, '' gentlemen, for the life of me I 
could not reproduce a half dozen words." 

During the great campaign in Michigan, I 
think it was in the year 1887, the liquor interest 
had secured the service of Mr. Duffield, a celebrated 
attorney of Detroit. He was to speak in fifteen of 
the principal cities of Michigan. Mr. Duffield was 
a leading layman in the Presbyterian Church. He 
was the son of the celebrated Rev. Dr. Duffield, 
who was one of the early leaders of the temperance 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 211 

reform. Mr. Duffield himself was an elder in the 
Presbyterian Church, and was considered a strong 
temperance man. He opened his series of 
addresses at Beecher Hall, Detroit, and followed it 
up with an address at Grand Rapids a few nights 
afterward. But in the meanwhile Mr. Finch had 
been brought to Detroit to answer him. He spoke 
in Beecher Hall, where Mr. Duffield had spoken. 
It had been arranged for Mr. Finch to follow 
Duffield and speak at every place that he spoke. 
But the reply which Mr. Finch made to Duffield 
in Detroit was so overwhelming, that Duffield, after 
speaking at Grand Rapids, had his dates all can- 
celed, and did not speak again during the cam- 
paign. 

Mr. Finch was elected Right Worthy Grand 
Templar in 1884. It was through his endeavors 
that the order was reunited at Saratoga in 1887. 
He died a few^months afterward, October 3rd, 
1887. He dropped dead at a depot in Boston, 
having just arrived there from Lynn, where he had 
delivered a masterly address. At the time of his 
death he was thirty-five years old. Thus perished 
at this early age the mightiest man that our reform 
ever produced. He was not only a great orator, 
but he was a keen political leader, and a statesman. 
I believe that, had he lived, the Prohibition party 
would have been in power to-day. 



2 12 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

He looked every inch the man that he was. 
After being described as I have described him 
here, you might have passed through a hundred 
thousand men, and you could have picked him out. 
He was every inch a prince among men. He was 
just six feet high, and weighed about one hundred 
and ninety pounds. He was a perfect Apollo and 
a splendid athlete. His physical powers were as 
great as his mental powers. He was no saint, nor 
did he claim to be one. In his early days of tem- 
perance work in Nebraska, a whiskey paper slan- 
dered him. The two editors of the paper were 
two stalwart young men, yet Mr. Finch went into 
their office, whipped them both in five minutes, 
and did not get so much as a scratch upon his 
person. As years go by, my admiration for this 
great leader grows greater and greater. 

Our campaign that summer was a red-hot one. 
We had almost a riot at every place we visited. 
At Lisbon a saloon-keeper said that I had come 
into his saloon, had treated, and drank myself. 
When it was told me, I was inclined to treat it as 
a joke ; but my friends insisted I should notice it, 
and so I did in a very forcible way. The saloon- 
keeper was the deputy sheriff of the county, a lead- 
ing politician, and claimed to be a big fighter. My 
speech stirred up the boys, but somehow or other 
this man got Finch and I mixed up, and insisted 
that it was Finch who had said the bad things 




Miss Mary Sobieski. 

Only Living Child of Colonel Sobieski 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 213 

about him. So he came over to the house where 
we were stopping, to interview us. He told Finch 
what he understood he had said about him and his 
place of business. 

But I said, "Oh, no! it was I who said that." 

"No," he said, "I understood it was Finch 
who said it."_ 

"Well," Finch said, "if it will be any satisfac- 
tion to you, I will say it now. You keep a low, 
drunken doggery, and your place is so dirty and 
filthy that a first-class hog, if compelled to stay in 
it fifteen minutes, would die of the cholera; and 
you yourself are a sneak and a liar." 

Whereupon the saloon-keeper rose to his feet, 
with his eyes blazing like balls of fire, and said: 
"Fll see you to-morrow!" 

Finch said, "Yes, I shall be around town until 
twelve o'clock." 

The man of the house said that Finch would 
have to fight in the morning. 

Finch said, " All right, I'll accommodate him." 

The man of the house said such was the repu- 
tation of the saloon-keeper among the young men 
of the place, that he'd have to fight, or people 
would laugh him out of town. 

Well, we were all over town the next morning, 
saw the saloon-keeper several times, but he never 
would see us. The boys did laugh him out of the 
town. He had to sell out and leave. 



2 14 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

A year afterward I stopped at a railroad hotel, 
went in and registered my name, and said I would 
go to my room at once. I was taken up-stairs to 
my room. 

When the landlord turned to go out, he said: 
" Is not your name Sobieski?" 

I said, ''Yes." 

Now, looking the landlord in the face for the 
first time, I recognized the saloon-keeper of Lis- 
bon. He wanted to know where Finch was. I 
told him in Nebraska. 

He said, "Do you know I came mighty near 
licking that fellow?" 

"You did?" 

"Yes," he replied, *'and I would have done it^ 
only I did not wish to offend the good people of 
that town." 

So Finch never knew how near he came to 
getting a licking. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 215 



CHAPTER XXI. 

Campaign in Wisconsin — Colonel B. F, Parker — Prohibition cam- 
paign in Iowa and Illinois. 

At the session of the Right Worthy Grand 
Lodge in 1879, I was elected Right Worthy Grand 
Chaplain, or rather I was chosen for that office. 

In a body like the Right Worthy Grand Lodge, 
where delegates assemble from all over the globe, 
we have a great many able men and women, and 
also a great many more who think they are ; and 
'tis usually those who think they are who take up 
the time of the body and delay business. The 
session of 1879 was especially troubled with that 
class. It found us on the fourth morning of the 
session practically with no business done, except 
the election and installation of officers. That morn- 
ing I made my first prayer as Right Worthy 
Grand Chaplain, and I thought the thing most 
needed to be prayed for was our body. So in 
my prayer I thanked God that we had been so 
richly endowed with the grace of patience, which 
we had been called upon to exercise to such a 
remarkable degree in the past three days, ask- 
ing our Heavenly Father if he wouldn't still 
continue to bless us in that respect, to gra- 
ciously bless our dear brothers who were occupy- 



2r6 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

ing our time with their debates, that he might 
endow them with more wisdom than they had 
hitherto shown, and that they might have the 
power of imparting that wisdom to us in much 
fewer words; and "that this day may be a day 
signalized by very few speeches and a great deal 
of business. And thine be the glory, forever. 
Amen." 

The prayer was received with rapturous 
applause throughout the entire body. Right across 
from me sat Rev. Dr. Fisher of Kansas, a very 
eminent Methodist minister. He at once started 
to come over to my chair. I thought he was going 
to reprove me, but he did not; instead he shook 
me heartily by the hand, and congratulated me. 
He said: "That's right, brother, always pray for 
that which is most needed." 

We finished all of our business that day. No 
unnecessary words were uttered, and we adjourned 
before nine o'clock that night. This will always 
be considered a remarkable answer to prayer. 

At the close of the tent campaign of Mr. Finch 
and myself in Wisconsin, my services were secured 
to lecture for the Good Templars for a year. It 
was during this tent campaign, and the following 
year while working in Wisconsin, that my 
acquaintanceship with Colonel B. F. Parker, Grand 
Secretary, became more intimate; and it has lasted 
ever since. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 217 

Brother B. F. Parker was born, I think, in one 
of the Eastern States, but has lived in Wisconsin 
nearly all his life. He received a liberal education. 
At the outbreak of the Civil War he entered the 
army, serving in the artillery ; and retired at the 
close of the war as major. He soon afterward 
became connected with the Good Templars, and 
in 1873 was elected Grand Worthy Secretary, a 
position he has held ever since. He was elected 
to the Right Worthy Grand Lodge in 1874, and 
has been a member of that body and an attendant 
at every session since. In 1885, at the session of 
the Right Worthy Grand Lodge, he was elected 
Right Worthy Grand Secretary. He has held that 
position ever since, and no doubt will hold it as 
long as he desires. He is a natural-born secretary; 
no one equals him: and that this is no biased judg- 
ment of mine, is shown from the fact that he has 
been twenty-six times Grand Secretary of Wiscon- 
sin, and has been elected Right Worthy Grand 
Secretary since 1885. 

At the outbreak of the war with Spain, the 
regiment of which he was the lieutenant-colonel, 
the Third Wisconsin, was ordered to the front. 
He was all through the Porto Rico campaign, at 
the close of which he returned home. It is an 
adage with Colonel Parker, never to undertake a 
thing unless you can do it, and do it right. He is 
a man of immense popularity, handsome in person, 



2i8 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

and genial in character. He is so warm-hearted 
and sympathetic, that a song cannot be sung or a 
speech made of a pathetic nature but it at once 
melts him to tears. He is a perfect soldier, though 
now sixty years of age; and has passed through 
many severe trials, yet is so well preserved that 
he does not look above forty-five. He has a lovely 
wife, and a lovely, charming daughter, the joy and 
the pride of his heart. 

My work in Wisconsin was very pleasant. 
Though the State is hard to travel over in many 
respects, yet the people are so warm-hearted that 
I enjoyed my work exceedingly. For the year 
1881 I did not do much, making only two hundred 
and fifty speeches during the year, and they were 
in Nebraska and Illinois, 

\n June, 1882, I went to Iowa to take part in 
the campaign there for the prohibitory amendment. 
The battle was spirited from the beginning, and 
we swept the State by about thirty thousand 
majority — a splendid victory that was lost after- 
ward by the treachery of the political leaders. 

I remember the night of the election on the 
prohibition question I had been out to the room 
where we had been receiving returns, until it was 
quite late. On my return to the Aborn House, 
where I was stopping, I heard one very dejected 
saloon-keeper say: "Veil, veil, the State has gone 
to hell. Now I'm going to sell out my business 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 219 

here, and ^o to some place where there is no 
damned voman or preacher." He seemed to 
appreciate from what source his trouble had come. 

The rest of that year was spent in speaking for 
the Good Templars in Illinois, and 1883 was spent 
likewise. 

On the 19th of May, 1883, occurred the death 
of brother Cyrus W. Bassett, Grand Secretary of 
Illinois. Brother Bassett was born in the State of 
Illinois, in the city of Abingdon. His father was 
a merchant in that place. He served in the Civil 
War, and was a brave soldier. I became acquainted 
with him in 1869, and from that time until the day 
of his death our intimacy was of the closest kind. 
It was I who nominated him for Grand Worthy 
Treasurer when he was elected at Decatur in 
1876. I also nominated him for Grand Worthy 
Secretary in 1877. He served in that office until 
his death. He was also a member of the Right 
Worthy Grand Lodge, and whatever duty he was 
called upon to perform, he always performed it 
with rare ability and fidelity. I never knew a 
better man; warm-hearted, sympathetic, and true. 
I loved him as a brother, and wept many bitter 
tears at his death. 



220 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. ' 



CHAPTER XXII. 

Campaign of 1883 in Wisconsin — Presidential campaign of 1884 — 
Prohibition camp-meetings in New York— Governor St. John — Result of 
the election, etc. 

The Right Worthy Grand Lodge of Good 
Templars in 1883 was held in Chicago. It was 
very largely attended, George B. Katzenstein 
presiding. 

At the session of the Grand Lodge of Illinois 
in the fall of 1883, ^ I was chosen by the Grand 
Lodge to go to Ohio for a month during their 
campaign, to secure the adoption of the prohibition 
amendment. It was a hard-fought campaign from 
the beginning to the end, both the Democratic 
and Republican candidates for governor, and also 
most of the press, opposing the adoption of the 
amendment; indeed, I do not know of a single daily 
in the State that favored it, and I am safe to say at 
least ninety per cent of the weekly press were 
against it. But the campaign upon our side was 
well planned and well fought. The result of the 
vote was: for the amendment, three hundred and 
twenty thousand; against the amendment, two 
hundred and eighty thousand. That is the way 
the vote was returned, but a circumstance occurred 
in one part of the State that showed how the vote 
was counted. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 221 

A contested election case in the Lancaster dis- 
trict of that State on the congressman, caused a 
recount of the vote. Some of the temperance 
people seized upon the occasion to tally the vote 
on the amendment, and it was shown that not one- 
half of the vote in favor of the amendment had 
been returned. In submitting the prohibition 
amendment to the people, the legislature was 
wholly opposed to the amendment, and only sub- 
mitted it on demand of the clamor of their constit- 
uents. So they made no provision for watch in 
counting the vote: and as the friends of the amend- 
ment had no right to be present at the count, or to 
see that the votes were correctly counted, they had 
to depend upon the honesty of the regular election 
officers ; and as they were usually composed of a 
low grade of politicians, they returned any kind of 
vote they pleased. There was no doubt a half 
million votes cast for the amendment. 

I remember during that campaign of thoroughly 
disgusting one old bourbon, whom I met on the 
train. I got into a conversation with him, and he 
asked me what my opinion was in regard to the 
prohibition question. I told him that I was in 
favor of it, and that I was in the State speaking 
for it. The old bourbon became excited at once, 
and said that he was opposed to it and he could 
not see how any sensible man could be otherwise. 
During the talk he brought up the old argument, 



22 2 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

that if you forbid a man doing a thing, he is 
sure to do it. 

"Well," I said, "if that is the case, my friend, 
then our laws have all been at fault, and the reason 
why we have murder, theft, forgery, counterfeiting, 
larceny, arson, is because we have laws forbidding 
them ; and so the way to do would be to repeal all 
of those laws, and then all crime in the land 
against person and property would cease." 

The old man jumped to his feet, .and said: *'I 
thought I had been talking to a damned fanatic, 
but I find out I'm talking to a damned fool;" and 
he left the car. But I am sure he never used that 
argument again. 

Quite an amusing incident occurred during that 
campaign, in Ottawa, Putnam County. A few 
days before that Finch and I had spoken at Leipsic, 
at an all-day meeting. During the noon hour I 
had told a story of Tom Corwin, the great Ohio 
orator and statesman. When he was running for 
governor in 1840, he spoke in Painesville, up in 
the western reserve. The people up there are 
very cold and undemonstrative, though a very 
intelligent people. Corwin had been accustomed 
to carry his audience by storm, having them either 
mad or happy, laughing or crying, at his will; but 
when he got in the western reserve, all this was 
changed. The people sat like statues, and it 
annoyed him very much. So he said at Paines- 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 223 

ville he tried everything to stir them. He tried 
statistics, he tried argument, he tried rhetoric, but 
all to no avail. Then-he took up jokes, told stories, 
but he couldn't move them a particle. He had 
one story that he knew would make them laugh, 
but he didn't want to use that on them unless he 
had to: and he had to; but they never even 
looked up at it. So, in disgust and dismay, he took 
his seat. There was silence for a few minutes in 
the hall (Women in those days did not attend 
political meetings.). 

At length a man in the hall rose and said: 
"Mr. Chairman, I move that we give the Hon. 
Thomas Corwin three cheers for his eloquent 
address." 

There was silence for a few minutes, when 
the chairman said: "Do I hear a second to the 
motion?" 

Another man in the hall rose and said: "Mr. 
Chairman, I second the motion." 

The chairman said: "It has been moved and 
seconded that we give the Hon. Thomas Corwin 
three cheers for his eloquent address. Are there 
any remarks to be made upon it?" 

There was silence for a few minutes. Then 
the chairman said: "All who are in favor of the 
motion, please say /." Three men voted /. 

The chairman said: "All who are opposed to 
it, will say no. There was no one voted no. 



2 24 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

The chairman said: "It is carried; we are now 
ready for the cheers." 

A man in the hall rose and said: "Mr. Chair- 
man, hurrah for Thomas Corwin;" and sat down. 

After a silence of a moment the chairman said: 
"Well, now we are ready for another." 

Another man rose and said: "Mr. Chairman, 
hurrah for Thomas Corwin;" and down he sat. 

And the chairman said: "Well, now, I guess 
we'll take the other." 

Then a little, phthisicky old fellow rose and 
said in a squeaking voice: "Hurrah for Mr. 
Thomas Corwin." 

The chairman said: "The Hon. Thomas Corwin 
having received his three cheers, we are now ready 
for a motion of adjournment." And they adjourned. 

So, when I got to Ottawa, Judge Goodwin said 
to me: "I wish you would tell that story about 
Tom Corwin at this meeting, for the people here 
always enjoy anything that is told at the expense 
of the people in the western reserve." 

1 told him I would do so, if I found a good 
place to put it in ; and so during my speech I told 
the story, and the people seemed to enjoy it very 
much. 

When I sat down. Judge Goodwin rose to 
move a vote of thanks, and he said: "Mr. Chair- 
man, I move we give Hon. John S ," and he 

never got any further. The people thought that 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 225 

he had risen to make a motion for giving me 
three cheers, and remembering the story I had 
told, it was too much for them; and they broke up 
all over, and with laughter and cheers the meeting 
adjourned, and I lost my collection. 

Returning from Ohio, I went to Wisconsin, 
where I spoke for the Good Templars that fall and 
winter; and in the spring I spoke for the Woman's 
Christian Temperance Union, in Illinois, up to 
July. In July I went to New York. A Methodist 
minister by the name of Rev. John Copeland had 
organized something like twenty-five prohibition 
camp-meetings, and I was to speak at all of them. 
He had the prominent prohibition speakers from 
all over the country. 

This was the presidential campaign year of 
1884. Cleveland had been nominated by the 
Democrats, Blaine by the Republicans, and Butler 
by the People's party. The Prohibition conven- 
tion had been postponed. It originally had been 
called to meet in May, but Senator Blair of New 
Hampshire, General Clinton B. Fisk of New Jersey, 
and ex-Governor St. John of Kansas, had written 
us letters urging us to postpone the convention, 
saying that they were confident that the Repub- 
licans in their national convention would take steps 
on the prohibition question that would be satis- 
factory all around ; but if they did not, they 
would cut loose from the Republican party and 



2 26 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

join us. Our committee had no faith whatever in 
any such action upon the part of the Republicans; 
yet, out of consideration for those distinguished 
gentlemen, the convention was postponed till the 
latter part of July. Well, the Republican conven- 
tion did not take the step, and Governor St. John 
and Clinton B. Fisk kept their word and joined the 
Prohibition party. The Prohibition convention 
met and nominated Governor St. John for the 
presidency, and William Daniel of Maryland for 
the vice-presidency. 

I made the acquaintance of Governor St. John 
at Topeka, Kansas, in 1881, at the time of the 
meeting of the Right Worthy Grand Lodge of 
Good Templars. He was then the governor of the 
State of Kansas. Governor St. John was born in 
the State of Indiana, I believe. While he was 
yet very young the family came to Illinois. 
When the gold excitement occurred in California, 
though but a mere lad at the time, he walked 
across the plains to California; and I think he 
finally went to Australia. Returning to Illinois, 
he studied law and was admitted to the bar. He 
married Miss Parker, the daughter of State Senator 
Parker, of Charleston, Illinois. He now began 
the practice of law at Charleston. He had just 
got well started in law when the Civil War broke 
out. He entered the army at once, in one of the 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 227 

Illinois regiments, where he made a splendid repu- 
tation as a brave and gallant officer. 

At the close of the war he moved to Missouri, 
but remained there only a year or so, when he went 
to Kansas, locating where he now lives, at Olathe. 
He was elected to the Kansas legislature, I think 
serving in both branches ; and in 1878 was elected 
governor of the State. Governor St. John is a 
natural-born reformer. He was an early aboli- 
tionist and Republican, and was once indicted in 
Illinois, under her infamous black laws, for feeding 
a negro. They failed to convict him, although he 
openly acknowledged his offense. He was always 
a temperance man — a radical temperance man — 
and an uncompromising prohibitionist. 

When the prohibition amendment was pending 
in his State in 1880, he entered earnestly into the 
battle in its behalf, and was the only man of 
prominence in his party who did; and it is 
generally conceded that his influence resulted 
in the adoption of the prohibition amendment. 
A gentleman who was at Bismarck Grove, near 
Lawrence, Kansas, at a prohibition camp-meet- 
ing in 1880, said that Governor St. John was there 
to speak in behalf of the amendment. The 
Republican State Convention was to meet a few 
days afterward. Some of his political friends came 
there to protest against his doing so. They 
told him they could see no objection to his speak- 



2 28 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

ing along the line of general temperance, but told 
him if he spoke in behalf of the amendment, it 
would defeat him in the convention. 

He said to them: "Gentlemen, I am here to 
speak for the prohibition amendment, and I shall 
do it. I hate the traffic, and I have always hated 
it; I have never got a chance to give it a blow, 
but I shall do so in the future; and while I would 
like to be re-elected governor of the State, I do 
not propose to purchase it at the price of my 
conscience and convictions. Gentlemen, I shall 
speak for the prohibition amendment to-day, and 
many other times before the election. " 

That ended the interview, and he was renomi- 
nated and reelected, and the amendment was 
adopted and the law enacted. He was renomi- 
nated again in 1882, but the liquor element in his 
own party joined with the Democratic party, and 
there being a great Democratic slide that year, 
he was defeated by a small majority. It has been 
said that he deserted the Republican party on 
account of his defeat that year, and sought to 
revenge himself by defeating it in the nation. 
Nothing could be further from the truth. His 
attachment to the Republican party was as strong 
as ever after that defeat. I had several conversa- 
tions with him, and know this to be so. 

After the action of the Republicans in conven- 
tion in 1884, there was but one thing he could do, 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 229 

and he did it bravely. The campaign of 1884 was 
signalized for slander, the Republican party charg- 
ing Mr. Cleveland with an immoral life, while the 
Democratic party, on the other hand, were charg- 
ing Mr. Blaine with selling his influence as Speaker 
of the House to carry through corrupt measures, 
and with beino^ an immoral man when he was 
young; and altogether the campaign was the dirt- 
iest, most disgusting and disgraceful our nation 
has ever known. Every effort was made that 
could be made to prevail on Governor St. John to 
withdraw from the contest so late in the campaign 
as to prevent another man being put on in his 
place, but it was unavailing. Governor St. John 
received one hundred and fifty thousand votes at 
that election. 

Some of the papers of the Republican party, 
and also som^e men, maddened at their defeat, 
turned upon Governor St. John in their anger, 
accusing him of their misfortune, and charging him 
with selling out to the Democrats. The charge 
was most absurd. He could not have sold out to 
the Democrats, as he was already running; nor to 
the Republicans, lor, surely, he was of no interest 
to them. But in their continued denunciation, 
they aroused a good deal of bitterness against him, 
and he was hung in effigy in many places. Yet, 
right amidst all of the denunciation, I visited him, 
and found him cool, undisturbed, and in the best 



230 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

of spirits, laughing at the frantic rage of his ene- 
mies, and laughingly showing me and reading me 
some of his love letters, as he called them ; and, 
in all my intimacy with Governor St. John, 1 never 
heard him say a bitter word about any of his 
enemies. I have ever found Governor St. John to 
be a noble, pure-minded, honorable. Christian 
gentleman, worthy of the love and admiration of 
the thousands who believed in him. I have heard 
Governor St. John speak many times; and while 
I have heard most of the greatest political 
campaigners of the last thirty years, yet I have never 
heard him excelled. He has a wonderful power 
of moving and convincing people. Mr. Bryan 
has said that what makes a successful speaker 
is to thoroughly believe in one's subject, and to 
be hungry for its success. That seems to be the 
secret of Governor St. John's great success, 
coupled with his great-heartedness and behef in 
the masses. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 231 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

My work in Dakota — Mr. Folsom — Right Worthy Grand Lodge at 
Toronto — My trip to Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, and Newfoundland — In 
the camps of New York— Candidate for Congress — Lecturing again in 
South Dakota — Death of Mr. Finch — Convention at Indianapolis — Nom- 
ination of Fisk and Brooks. 

That winter after the campaign, I spoke in 
South Dakota. While lecturing in South Dakota, 
I became acquainted with Mr. A. C. Folsom, as I 
worked under his direction; and our acquaintance 
formed there has been kept up ever since, and our 
intimacy has been very close. I had the pleasure 
of being his guest for two days at Dell Rapids. A 
happier home I was never in. His wife was a 
beautiful woman, as lovely in character as she was 
in person. She was an ideal wife. Mr. Folsom 
had the great misfortune to lose her in 1889: she 
died after a few days' sickness, of typhoid fever. 
I have always found Mr. Folsom to be a high-prin- 
cipled Christian gentleman, strict in his dealings, 
kind-hearted and companionable; one of the men 
we love to meet and associate with. He made one 
of the best Grand Secretaries I ever knew. 

The Right Worthy Grand Lodge of Good 
Templars met in 1885 in Toronto, Canada. We 
had a very pleasant and profitable session. At the 
close of the session I was selected, with Mr. A. O. 



232 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

Crozier of Michigan, to go to Nova Scotia, Cape 
Breton, and Newfoundland, to restore the order in 
those islands, where it had been broken up by the 
secession movement. 

I enjoyed the trip very much, though it was 
hard work; yet at that time of year it was very 
pleasant in that climate. Nova Scotia will be 
remembered as the place where Longfellow located 
his celebrated story, "Evangeline." I saw Grand- 
Pre and the old brick church. 

Coming up on the boat on Lake Bras d' Or I 
noticed a large, fine-looking man, who turned out 
to be a member of Parliament from that country, 
watching me very closely. I said to Mr. Crozier, 
"I wonder why that man watches me so closely." 

"Why," he said, "I presume he is a detective, 
and he thinks he's struck a trail ; for you are a 
suspicious looking man, Sobieski." 

Just as the boat was about to land at Port 
Hawksberry, while quite a number were standing 
about us, he came up to me and said: "Holy 
Father, may I ask you where you reside?" 

I said, "Holy Moses, yes." 

It raised quite a laugh. He afterward explained 
to me that holy fathers from Montreal often came 
down there to spend the summer, and thinking 
that I was one, he had spoken to me. I excused 
him and told him it was all right, and that I had 
enjoyed the joke. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 233 

Having finished our work in Cape Breton, we 
went to Newfoundland. Though we landed on 
the island entire strangers, yet in a few weeks we 
had organized a dozen lodges of Good Templars, 
and I left Mr. Crozier to reorganize the Grand 
Lodge. 

While Mr. Crozier and I were at the little town 
of Blackhead, we were walking out on the street 
one morning, when near a stable we met an 
elderly, good-looking man, w^ho stopped and spoke 
to us, saying: "Are you the distinguished Ameri- 
can gentlemen stopping here in our little town?" 

We assured him we were. 

'*Well," he said, "gentlemen, it does me great 
pleasure to welcome you to our little island. 
While it is rocky and barren, yet we have warm- 
hearted men and women on the island, and we 
welcome you with glad hands and glad hearts. 
Gentlemen, you have come from a noble land ; 
from the land of Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, 
and Lincoln ; a land that is flowing with milk and 
honey, w^here want is never known. Now, gentle- 
men, if you have got about you a sixpence or a 
twopence, and if you think you could spare it, I 
wish you would give it to a poor, old man who is 
lame and can no longer go a-fishing." 

We each gave him a dollar, and the last we 
saw ol the old man he was still standing there 



234 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

calling- down the blessing- of Almighty God upon 

us. I expect he is standing there still. 

At a place called Heart's Content, Mr. Crozier 

and I visited a very ancient graveyard, and among 

the many funny inscriptions we saw on the grave 

stones was this, on a stone that was dated 1756: 

'* Here lies good Susan Bent; 

She kicked up her heels, and away she went." 

The night that I got into Halifax, on my return, 
we arrived about ten o'clock. Newfoundland does 
not belong to the Dominion of Canada, so there 
is a tariff on all goods brought from there. The 
custom-house officer stood in the gangway inspect- 
ing the luggage of those who got off; so I unlocked 
my grip and held it up to him. He gave me just 
a glance, and said: "Never mind. Holy Father, 
you can pass right on. " 

But the next morning at the hotel I had all the 
conceit taken out of me. On coming down for 
breakfast, when I went to the dining-room door, 
the steward took me down to about the center of 
the room to a table. "There," he said, "you 
circus men will all sit at this table." There was a 
circus troop stopping at the hotel at the time, and 
they had arrived late the night before. 

When I arrived at Halifax on my way out to 
Newfoundland, I stopped at the International 
Hotel. I hadn't been in my room long before the 
servant brought a card to me, which bore the name 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 235 

of Captain Phelan, the United States consul. I 
told the servant to have him come up. He did so. 
He proved to be from St. Louis, Missouri. He 
was so delighted to meet some one from Missouri. 
We had a pleasant chat together. He had served 
in the Confederate army. He was so kind and 
pleasant that I shall never forget him. He sent 
over to me a lot of St. Louis papers, the Globe and 
the Republic, and he visited me on the steamer. 
On my return to Halifax, he came and took me in 
his carriage and drove me about the city. The 
good man has long since gone to heaven. 

At Truro, Nova Scotia, I was joined by John 

B. Finch, and we went on to Boston together, 
stopping in Boston a day or two. We then came 
on to New York city, and that summer I lectured 
in the same prohibition camp-meetings that I did 
the year before. It was while attending this 
series of camp-meetings that I became acquainted 
with three of the brightest men of our reform : 

C. H. Mead, Lou J. Beauchamp, and A. A. 
Hopkins. 

C. H. Mead is now known as Dr. Mead, as he is a 
doctor of divinity. He is one of the best-known men 
of our reform. He is a thoroughly educated gentle- 
man, a wonderful, magnetic speaker; full of humor, 
and yet of good sense. He is one of the most pop- 
ular speakers of the day on the subject of temper- 
ance. And sing! Well, I should say he can. Dr. 



236 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

C. H. Mead is writing a page in the history of our 
reform that will shine among our brightest. 

Lou J. Beauchamp, of Hamilton, Ohio, is a 
thoroughly educated man. He Segan his career 
as a newspaper reporter, and became converted to 
the temperance cause during the "Ribbon Move- 
ment," in the seventies. He has been actively 
engaged in lecturing ever since. Of late years he 
has been lecturing considerably on the popular 
platform, and he is also an author and poet. His 
two most notable books are "Sunshine" and 
" What the Duchess and I Saw in Europe." Mr. 
Beauchamp is young compared with the rest of us: 
I think he was born about 1853. He is a charming 
orator — one of the most taking speakers with all 
kinds of audiences, that I ever knew; and he is 
perfectly inexhaustible; he will speak from sixty 
to seventy nights in one place, holding his 
audiences and increasing them right along. All 
the time he is speaking you are carried away 
constantly by conflicting emotions. He is perfectly 
indescribable — no words of mine can do him justice. 

A. A. Hopkins is an author of a good deal of 
repute. He has written quite a large number of 
volumes of both poetry and prose, and he is also 
one of our strongest editors. He is a strong, log- 
ical speaker, and when aroused he has great 
power. He is a refined and accomplished gen- 
tleman. 




Lou J. Beauchamp. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 237 

The following year, the winter of 1885 and in 
1886, I lectured in Illinois, Pennsylvania, and 
New York. In July, 1886, I was nominated for 
Congress in my district, which covers the south- 
western part of the State. I was nominated by 
the Prohibitionists, and endorsed by the People's 
party. I made a thorough canvass of my district, 
and made it just as warm for my opponents as pos- 
sible; but as my party was overwhelmingly in the 
minority, of course I failed in the election, but I 
had a good deal of fun.. 

That fall and winter I spoke again in South 
Dakota, working under the direction of the Good 
Templars. My old friend Kanouse was now 
Grand Chief Templar of South Dakota, and Mr. 
A. C. Folsom still secretary. 

In the summer of 1886, Rev. John A. Brooks, 
D. D., had planned a campaign of twelve prohibi- 
tion camp-meetings. They were called the Sam 
Jones camp-meetings, as he was the most notable 
man among the speakers. Of Sam Jones it is 
hardly necessary to speak: the world knows him — 
everybody knows him. There is only one Sam 
Jones in the world, or ever was, or ever will be. 
His power is marvelous; while his speeches are 
often fearful in denunciation, and what some people 
call coarse at times, yet, in the main, they are 
beautiful. I don't believe any one ever heard 
Sam Jones through, but went away hating himself 



238 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

for every mean action he ever did. I have always 
found him an exceedingly pleasant and agree- 
able gentleman socially. I wish we had a thou- 
sand like him. 

The next year, 1887, I lectured in Illinois in the 
first part of the season, and during the summer my 
time was put in in prohibition camp-meetings. 
Mr. Frank Sibley and J. A. Van Fleet had organ- 
ized twenty-seven prohibition camp-meetings, run- 
ning through a half dozen States: Illinois, Wiscon- 
sin, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. The speakers 
were John P. St. John, Van Buren Bennett, C. H. 
Mead, A. A. Hopkins, George W. Bain, Frank 
Sibley, and John Sobieski. 

It was during this series of camp-meetings 
that I met for the first time Rev. Jasper L. Douthit. 
Of him I shall speak further along in my book. 

Brother Van Buren Bennett had been a soldier 
in the army, a radical Democrat, and drank 
whiskey some; but he had been converted, and 
joined church and the Prohibition party. He 
proved to be one of our ablest and strongest 
speakers. 

It was during this series of camp-meetings 
that I did my last work with John B. Finch. It 
was at Bowling Green, Ohio. Little did I think 
then that I was speaking with him for the last 
time; but so it proved. I spent a couple of days 
with him two weeks before his death. He never 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 239 

looked better, and told me he never felt better. 
But a couple of weeks afterward, picking up a 
little evening newspaper at Marshall, Minnesota, I 
read this simple announcement: ''John B. Finch, 
the Prohibition leader, dropped dead in Boston 
last night." My! how it thrilled me. I was speech- 
less, as it were. In a few minutes I received a 
telegram announcing his death. I at once can- 
celed all my engagements and started for 
Evanston. At his funeral there were delegations 
from fifteen or twenty States. I saw men weep 
like children, as he was placed in the tomb. 

The fall and part of the winter of 1887 I 
lectured in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and New 
York, and then attended the National Prohibition 
Convention which met at Indianapolis. In that 
convention we had a lively contest as to whether 
woman suffrage should be retained in our platform. 
I favored its retention very earnestly. I see now 
that I made a mistake. I have become convinced 
that it is better for the cause of woman suffrage 
that it should be left out of all platforms; that it 
should be made a non-partisan issue. It is unlike 
prohibition, which needs a party to enforce it. 
When once enacted, woman suffrage will enforce 
itself. The convention at Indianapolis was presided 
over by the Rev. Henry Delano, of Evanston, Illi- 
nois, as temporary chairman, and ex-Governor John 
P. St. John as permanent chairman. The conven- 
tion nominated for President, Clinton B. Fisk of 
New Jersey; for Vice-President, Dr. John A. Brooks 
of Missouri. 



240 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

Clinton B. Fisk — John A. Brooks — My trip to California — The 
assembly at Long Beach — Enter the campaign in California for Fisk and 
Brooks — Los Angeles — Sacramento — San Francisco — Return East — 
Campaigning in Missouri and Pennsylvania, etc. 

General Clinton B. Fisk, our nominee for Pres- 
ident, was born, I think, in Michigan. At the out- 
break of the war he was a resident of St. Louis. 
He entered the army at once, rose to distinction, 
was commander of the department of Missouri, and 
showed such marked administrative abilities, that 
at the close of the war, on the organization of the 
Freedmen's Bureau, he was placed in charge, and 
discharged his duties with great success. After the 
bureau had been abolished, he was made treas- 
urer of the Missouri and Pacific Railroad Company. 
Then he went to New York and entered the 
brokerage business. 

He was a man of lovely, genial character, a 
very popular speaker, very active in Christian 
work, and one of the most influential lay members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was an 
excellent story-teller. He used to tell a story of 
when he assumed the command of his regiment at 
the beginning of the war. He addressed the men, 
and appealed to them to live Christian lives, saying : 
"Now, boys, I'll make this contract with you, that 
I am to do all the swearing for the regiment.'* 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 241 

Some weeks after their arrival at the front, he 
came upon one of his teamsters whose mules had 
balked on him, and he was swearing at them like 
a trooper. The colonel stopped him and said : 
*'Sir, I am amazed; I am perfectly amazed. The 
contract was, you remember, that I was to do the 
swearing for the whole regiment. Do you remem- 
ber it?" 

The teamster said: "Why, yes, Colonel, I 
remember it; but as you weren't around attending 
to your business, and the cussing had to be done, 
and done at once, I did it. Now, I hope. Colonel, 
you'll be looking after your business after this. 
For, while I can do a little cussing, it goes agin' 
my grain to do it, especially when we've got a man 
hired to do it." 

The colonel rode away. 

While he was in charge of the Freedmen's 
Bureau, he went down to Nashville to address the 
colored people there. His peculiar manner of 
speaking was such that it made him very popular 
with the colored people. So, at the close of this 
address at Nashville, a very old colored man, 
whose head was covered with an abundance of 
wool, came to him and said: "General Fisk, they 
have been slandering you here." 

"Why," the general said, "what have they been 
saying about me?" 



242 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

"Why, General, they've been saying that you 
belonged to that trash called the Methodists." 

"Why," the general said, "are the Methodists 
trash ?" 

"Indeed they are, General; no earthly account, 
whatsoever; regular upstarts in religion. Who 
ever heard tell of the Methodists in Bible times? 
Nobody. But don't we read in the Blessed Book 
about the Baptists and their great Baptist preacher, 
John the Baptist? And I know you're one of us, 
Massa Clinton Fisk, for no one could talk as you 
have talked to-day, unless he had been washed all 
over in the Jordan." 

It was expected at the time of General Fisk's 
nomination, that we would draw great strength 
from the Methodist Church, as that church is the 
largest in the United States, and the temper- 
ance sentiment in the church is very strong, and 
as General Fisk was one of the most beloved and 
influential of their lay members. In this matter, 
however, we were disappointed, as we received 
but very little accession from that church. But 
General Fisk made a splendid canvass, and 
received two hundred and fifty thousand votes, 
which was a hundred thousand in excess of the 
vote four years previous. General Fisk died in 
1893 or '94, at his home in New Jersey. 

Our candidate for Vice-President, Dr. John A. 
Brooks, was born and reared in Kentucky. In 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 243 

early life he entered the ministry in the Disciples, 
or Christian Church, and rose to great fame as an 
evangelist of that denomination. Right after the 
close of the Civil War he came to Missouri and 
began to take an active part in the temperance 
work, where his eloquence and ability soon made 
him leader in the State. In 1884 he was a candi- 
date for governor on the Prohibition ticket, and 
received nearly twelve thousand votes. This 
brought him into national prominence, and he was 
elected to the head of that great fraternity, the 
Ancient Order of United Workmen. During the 
campaign of 1888 he was the storm center of 
our party. General Fisk was so influential in the 
Methodist Church that the Republican press did 
not dare to attack him, so they turned all their 
batteries upon our candidate lor Vice-President. 
He was a Southern man, at one time a slave- 
holder, and during the Civil War was supposed to 
have been in sympathy with his section, and as his 
church was much smaller than the Methodist, and 
more than half of it located in the Southern States, 
they concluded our candidate for Vice-President 
was our vulnerable point, and hurled all their shot 
and shell against him. Denunciation, abuse, and 
the grossest kind of misrepresentation were used 
against him, but he bore it grandly, and became 
stronger each day. 



244 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

Dr. Brooks was a power upon the platform, 
and when aroused he was terrific, bearing down 
all opposition before him: with his great faith in 
God and the right, it made him a mighty cham- 
pion for our cause. Some years ago he was called 
to the Christian Church of London, England. 
While there his health began to fail him, and he 
was compelled to resign his charge. He returned 
home, and died at the home of his daughter, at 
Memphis, Tennessee. He was one of our noblest 
and ablest defenders. He will long be lamented. 

In 1888 I was engaged by Dr. George C. Cole 
to go to California and lecture before the Long 
Beach Assembly. I left home on the 3rd of July, 
and arrived at Los Angeles on the 7th, passing on 
the route many places that were quite familiar to 
me — points I had passed during my trip across the 
plains in the early days of my soldiering. 

On the way out, while we were in New Mexico, 
I was one day down at the front end of the coach 
talking with some passengers, when I heard a 
confusion at the rear end of the car, and went 
back to see what the matter was. It was a drunken 
Irishman threatening to clean out the whole car. 
It was the next day after the Fourth of July, and 
he hadn't worked off his drunk yet. The brake- 
man was afraid of him, as he had two revolvers 
strapped on him, and so he was having a regular 
picnic. When I walked up to him, he turned 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 245 

around fiercely; but as soon as he took a glance at 
me, a scared look came upon his face, he sank 
into his seat in a moment, and became silent. I 
saw what he had taken me for, so I gave him a 
reproving look, took my seat, and looked out of 
the window. 

In a few minutes he came over to where I was, 
and putting his hand upon my knee, said: "Holy 
Father, I hope you'll forgive me for this disgrace- 
ful conduct; for disgracing myself, and, above all, 
for disgracing the grand old Church, — and indeed 
she is a grand old Church; but you see. Holy 
Father, I got to drinking yesterday, and you know 
that boys will be boys, so I got too much aboard, 
and I'm afraid I misbehaved myself. But, Holy 
Father, forgive me, and I'll promise to behave 
myself like a gentleman the rest of the way." 

I looked sternly at him, and said: "You have 
misbehaved yourself, you have brought shame and 
disgrace upon the Church and upon your native 
country, so take your seat and behave yourself." 

He then slunk back into his seat; but an hour 
afterward, as we were nearing the station where he 
got off, he came up to my seat and said: "Now, 
Holy Father, I get off here, and, oh! Holy Father, 
if you will give me your blessing, I'll pledge 
myself not to drink another drop for a year." 

I gave him my blessing, made him take the 
pledge for a year, bade him good-day, and after- 



246 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

ward, during- all the rest of the journey, I was 
called the "Holy Father" by all of the passengers. 

I have often been taken for a Catholic priest in 
my travels. I do not know why, because I do 
not dress in a priestly way. I can only account 
for it on the ground that I am a large man, with 
smooth-shaven face and a contented look. I am 
almost invariably taken for a minister. 

When 1 took my train at Pierce City, twenty 
miles from my home, I got into the smoker. I 
did it for the reason that the rest of the train was 
very much crowded. At Joplin my coach was 
filled up with a lot of cursing, carousing miners. 
They packed the coach full, and they all were 
drunk. I couldn't get out after they came in, so 
I concluded to grin and bear it. I have found out 
long since by experience, that by paying no atten- 
tion to drunken men, not even looking at them, 
they will pay no attention to you. These drunken 
miners were from the mining towns in Kansas, so 
they had come into Joplin, which was near by, to 
fill up and get their supply for "the Fourth." 
Two drunken fellows, standing right over me and 
drinking a bottle of beer, spilt some of the beer on 
my duster. As drunk as they were, they begged 
my pardon, and with their handkerchiefs tried to 
wipe the beer off. At the first station quite a 
number got off. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 247 

Now I noticed a bad-looking fellow, not as 
drunk as the others, yet. just drunk enough to be 
mean and savage. He had his evil eye on me, and 
I saw that he was intending to get up a racket 
with me if he could; so I was determined not to 
look at him, and to pay no attention to him, but I 
began to hear him call me names. I heard him 
say: "See that damn big fellow over there. He 
thinks he's a better man than I am. I could lick 
him in a minute." All the while his drunken 
associates were trying to quiet him. 

I then got up and took off my duster, and that 
seemed to make him madder than ever. I thought 
it would, but I was determined to be all ready in 
case of an emergency. I heard him swear that 
he was going to come over and collect my fare, 
and that he would "stamp hell" out of me. He 
then started for me. 

Very fortunately I had a cane made of Osage 
orange timber. It wouldn't do much service in 
striking, but a whole lot in punching. So I rose 
to my feet, and said to those who were trying to 
keep him off: "If he advances to my seat, he dies 
that very moment." 

They said: "Oh! don't hurt him; we can hold 
him." 

We now got to the station where they were to 
get off. They started to take him by my seat. I 
told them to turn and take him the other way, for 



248 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

if he passed my seat I would kill him. I knew 
that if he got near my seat, he would go for me. I 
had no fears of any personal harm from him, except 
that he could tear my clothes. The last I saw of 
the poor devil, they had him out on the platform, 
and he was yelling and cursing and trying to get 
away from them. The railroad men told me 
afterward that they would not have let him touch 
me; but they didn't seem to be very much in evi- 
dence at the time of the fuss. 

Without any more stirring events, we arrived 
at Los Angeles on Saturday night. At Los 
Angeles I was the guest of Mr. Gould, the leading 
Prohibitionist of California at that time. Los 
Angeles is one of the most beautiful cities I have 
ever seen, and Pasadena, ten miles out, is so 
beautiful that it is indescribable. Pasadena was a 
city of ten thousand at that time. Los Angeles 
had fifty thousand. 

Long Beach, where the assembly was to meet, 
was twenty miles out from Los Angeles. I have 
never seen its equal as a beach. At the assembly 
I had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of 
ex-Governor Cumback of Indiana, Colonel Cope- 
land, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Robert Nourse, 
of Washington, D. C, Rev. Dr. Stocker, and 
others. I also had the pleasure of meeting with 
Rev. Dr. Cobb, of Minnesota, who was chaplain of 
the House when I was a member in that State. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 249 

At the close of the assembly I received a letter 
from Samuel Dickie, telling me to remain on the 
coast and speak there during the entire campaign, 
under the direction of the National Prohibition 
Committee. I spoke a week in Los Angeles, from 
the steps of the court-house, to immense audiences 
each night. I spoke four nights at San Diego, 
from the band-stand in the public plaza, to big 
audiences. 

I spoke at Santa Ana to a very fine gathering, 
right under the electric-light mast. While I was 
speaking, I noticed a rather large man standing a 
little way off from the rest of the meeting, leaning 
up against a tree. All at once, right while I was 
speaking, he shouted: "Hurrah for Harrison!" 
The people all jumped to their feet — at least many 
of them did. 

I said to the people : "Be seated. Ladies and 
gentlemen, it is a part of my nature to be a Httle 
skeptical, and I must confess to you in all frank- 
ness, that when I have read in the Bible that story 
of Balaam's ass speaking upon one occasion, I have 
always doubted it; but, ladies and gentlemen, 
I congratulate you, and I congratulate myself, 
upon the events of this evening, for all doubts of 
the authenticity of that story have been removed 
from us to-night. For lo and behold! yonder ass 
over there has spoken, the first one that has 
spoken for over four thousand years." 



250 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

It was some time before I was permitted to go 
on, and meanwhile the man had disappeared. 

A few days afterward, up at Los Angeles, I 
met a gentleman from Santa Ana, and asked him if 
Mr. M had been seen since that night. 

He said: "No, he has been invisible to all since 
then. I think he must have ascended." 

I spoke for ten nights in the old Lyceum 
theater, in San Francisco. Dr. McDonald, who 
was then conducting the Prohibition work in that 
city, hired the old Lyceum theater on Market 
Street, the principal street of the city, and engaged 
a band to play each night out on the front veranda; 
and it was one of the best bands of the city: he 
also hired an orchestra to play during the entire 
time; and Mrs. Spencer, his daughter, one oi the 
finest musicians in California, and educated in 
Germany, organized a choir to sing, and we packed 
the old theater full, the capacity being three 
thousand people. 

I was in San Francisco on election day, and as 
San Francisco time is four hours behind that of 
New York, before the sun had gone down we 
knew how the nation had gone. I remember the 
night before the election, the Democrats had a 
great torch-light procession, and as they marched 
along they sang: "Four, four, four years more." 
A few nights after the election, the Republicans 
had a big torch-light procession, singing: "Four 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 251 

four, only four months more." So that's the way 
politics go. 

Two or three nights before the presidential 
election, I was standing on Kearney Street, and 
on the same corner with me was a very red-nosed 
citizen. While we were standing there, down 
from a hall came a Republican club of men and 
women, swinging their white handkerchiefs and 
shouting: "Harrison, Harrison, Harrison! " 

After they had passed along, the red-nosed 
man turned to me and said: "My God! my God! 
has it come to this? Women! women taking a part 
in street parades. Well, if the women come into 
politics, I go out of it." 

" I didn't say anything, but I wanted to say to 
him: "My dear friend, you can withdraw from pol- 
itics just as soon as you have a mind to, and you 
can depend upon it, the nation will not be the 
loser." 

In a few days after the election, I returned to 
the East, stopping off for a day or so at Salt Lake 
City, where I found a wonderful change since I 
had been there in 1858. I found a finely built city, 
with fifty thousand inhabitants. 

I arrived home just in time for Thanksgiving. 
After a rest of a month and a little over, I started 
out again, speaking in Missouri, when I was called 
to Pennsylvania, about the first of March, to take 
part in the Prohibition campaign. The vote was 



252 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

to be taken in June. I opened the campaig-n at 
Pittsburg-, speaking almost every night until the 
election, the 17th of June. 

On Decoration Day, the 30th of May, I spoke 
at the town of Warriorsmark, in Huntingdon 
County. It rained hard all night, and in the 
morning I had to start at four o'clock with a team 
to Tyrone, in order to get the train going through 
to Mt. Pleasant, where I was to speak that night. 
It had been raining heavily for several days, and as 
the train started out from Tyrone, I thought I 
never saw it rain harder, unless it was in a thun- 
der-storm. We took breakfast at Altoona, and 
there we began to climb the Alleghany Mountains. 
I noticed as we were going up among the moun- 
tains, that the rain was pouring in torrents, and 
we could see the foaming rivulets rushing down 
the hillsides. We arrived at Cresson, on the top of 
the mountain, all right; but when we left there, 
we ran out about half a mile and stopped. After 
waiting a little while, we were shoved back to the 
depot and side-tracked. We were told that a cul- 
vert had been washed out, and must be repaired. 
Soon up came a gang of men from Altoona, and 
they worked there in the rain for hours. 

In the coach with me, a beautiful little girl and 
her mother were among the passengers. The 
little girl became the favorite of everybody. She 
told me that she was going to Monongahela city 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 253 

to visit her grandpa and grandma; but, alas! the 
beautiful child was never to see them. 

About two o'clock I got very hungry, and 
asked the brakeman how long it would be before 
we would be able to start out. 

" Oh," he said, "two hours." 

I borrowed a gentleman's umbrella to go to 
town and get my dinner. The distance might 
have been a quarter of a mile. When I got off, 
an idea struck me, and I went back and got my 
grip and put it in the depot. I then went down to 
the hotel, leisurely ate my dinner, had a dinner 
put up for my friend, and started out on the rail- 
road to return. Just as I struck the railroad, I 
saw my train starting, and the man of whom I had 
borrowed the umbrella was on the rear end of the 
train, beckoning his hand to me. 

Well, I went down to the depot and vented my 
rage on the agent; but the agent tried to console 
me by telling me another train would be along 
in about an hour. When the train arrived, lo and 
behold! the culvert had washed out again; so the 
train was ordered to return to Altoona. Getting 
back to Altoona, we remained there all night. 

In the morning stories of destruction came to us 
on every hand. Among the delayed passengers I 
found an old friend of mine, Rev. D. C. Milner, 
then of Ottawa, Kansas, now of Chicago. Shortly 
after breakfast we were assembled in the Logan 



2 54 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

House and addressed by one of the ofificials of the 
Pennsylvania system. He told us that we were 
water bound; that the floods had washed away the 
railroads and the telegraph poles, but to what 
extent he did not know, nor could he tell us how 
soon we would be able to leave; but he told us to 
make ourselves comfortable, and that the railroad 
would pay the bill. 

News came that Johnstown had been destroyed ; 
but we thought it was wild, and paid no attention 
to it. Among the passengers at the Logan 
House was a gentleman by the name of Rose, if I 
remember rightly, from Johnstown, who was a 
member of the legislature. He was very anxious 
to get to Johnstown, as all of his family were there, 
except his wife, who was with him. There was a 
little road running from Altoona to Ebensburg, a 
distance of thirty miles. That road was all right, 
and he said we could take that road and go to 
Ebensburg, and there we could get a team to 
Blairsville, on the west Pennsylvania road; then 
we could easily go through to Pittsburg and west. 

I was extremely anxious to go, as 1 was dis- 
appointing an audience every night that I didn't 
get through ; so eight of us started out. We 
arrived at Ebensburg all right; but when we 
reached there, we found that the terrible reports 
of disaster had been verified. Fugitives had 
already begun to come over from Johnstown. I 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 255 

learned that the train that had gone off and left me 
had run down to Southfork, twelve miles from 
Cresson, and there they had found another washed- 
out culvert; and while they were waiting there, 
that terrible flood from the reservoir — the flood 
at that point being seventy feet high — struck 
them and swept them all into oblivion, with the 
exception of two passengers. Two gentlemen 
happened to be standing on the platform, and 
they heard the roar, and saw the terrible wave 
coming. They gave the alarm as well as they 
could, and ran up the hillside, barely saving them- 
selves. 

The next morning we started fof Blairsville. 
About noon we reached the Httle town of Armagh, 
where we learned that all of the bridges to Blairs- 
ville were gone; but we learned, that by turning 
off the turnpike and going four miles, we would 
reach the little town of Nineveh, and that the trains 
were already running from Sang Hollow, four 
miles west of Johnstown, through to Pittsburg. 
So we turned off and went down to Nineveh. 

Arriving at Nineveh, I beheld something that 
was terrible. Six hundred dead persons had been 
taken out at that point; persons of every age, sex, 
and condition. Part of them had been washed, 
and clean garments put upon them. I saw sixteen 
little babies; perhaps the oldest was not more than 
two or three years of age. They had been neatly 



256 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

washed and nicely dressed. At another place I 
saw eleven saloon-keepers. They had been 
washed and dressed and were lying side by side. 
They had been identified, and tags with their 
names and occupation had been pinned on their 
coats. 

At four o'clock the train came, and I left the 
scene of horror, and arrived at Greensburg in time 
to speak that night. The word had gone out, and 
been telegraphed to Chicago, where the Right 
Worthy Grand Lodge of Good Templars was in 
session, that I was on the ill-fated train, and had 
been drowned. I am happy to say it was a 
mistake. 

The result of the contest was our overwhelm- 
ing defeat. The political machines of both the 
Democratic and Republican parties joined together 
and overwhelmed us. They believed that one 
terrible, crushing defeat would end forever the 
Prohibition agitation. They were mistaken. No 
question is settled until it is settled right. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 257 



CHAPTER XXV. 

Taking a rest — Speaking in Michigan, Illinois, and the Dakotas — 
Back to Pennsylvania again. 

After the election in Pennsylvania, I returned to 
the West. After taking a little rest, I resumed 
work. During the campaign in Michigan for the 
prohibitory amendment, I spoke in the upper 
peninsula in the copper and iron region of the 
State. In September I went to South Dakota, 
where a separate article prohibiting the liquor 
traffic had been submitted to those two new States, 
and the Right Worthy Grand Lodge sent me to 
them to labor in its behalf. No hope was enter- 
tained for North Dakota, as an overwhelming 
majority of her voters were foreign-born citizens; 
but all were sanguine and hopeful for South 
Dakota. I spoke in all the principal towns in 
both North and South Dakota; and to the aston- 
ishment of all, it was found that both North and 
South Dakota had been carried for prohibition : 
South Dakota by twelve thousand, and North 
Dakota by twelve hundred. The Scandinavian 
vote had saved it, and prohibition was enacted in 
both States. But South Dakota has gone back to 
the license system, while North Dakota seems to 
be as solid as Gibraltar. 



258 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

After the contest was over in the Dakotas, I 
returned to Pennsylvania. On the way I took in 
the National Woman's Christian Temperance 
Union Convention at Chicago. It was the last 
time that I ever saw Miss Willard presiding over 
that great body. 

I remember during its session I induced a 
countryman of mine, who was a liquor dealer, to 
go over and look in upon the convention from my 
seat in the gallery. He was a man of education 
and intelligence. I remember as we left the hall, 
when I asked him what he thought of the conven- 
tion, he said: "Why, I am amazed. Did I know 
that there was not another person in the United 
States opposed to our business, except those 
women in that convention, I would know that our 
business could not live twenty five years. But it 
will last during my day." He died about two 
months after that. 

I lectured in Pennsylvania through that winter 
and spring, up until the first of June, when I 
returned to the West. 

After a few days' rest, I went to Nebraska to take 
part in the campaign for prohibition in that State. 
That was by all odds the bitterest campaign 
I have ever been through. To give my readers 
an idea of the bitterness of the campaign, at a hotel 
where I was stopping in Omaha, the barbers at 
the hotel barber-shop refused to shave me, because 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 259 

I was speaking for prohibition. I first spoke there 
with Colonel Demaree of Kentucky, in his tent, in 
Omaha, Plattsmouth, and at Kearney. 

I then went to Kentucky to assist Colonel 
Demaree in his prohibition camp-meeting at 
Ashland. After the close of the Ashland camp- 
meeting I spent a couple of weeks in his lovely 
home at College Hill. (He lives now at Union 
Mills, Kentucky.) 

Returning to Nebraska, I spoke there until the 
close of the campaign. When our friends came to 
the ballot-box in that State, they found themselves 
wholly unable to protect their own voters at the 
polls. The voters were maltreated, men knocked 
down at the polls, beaten with bludgeons, and then 
the fraud in counting the vote was as wicked and 
as corrupt as anything that was ever done in this 
country. Yet our friends were helpless for redress, 
there being no provision by which a contest could 
be made. The amendment was declared lost by 
forty-thousand majority, when it was actually 
carried by more than that. 

After the contest was decided in Nebraska, I 
returned to Illinois, where I lectured during that 
fall, winter, and spring. Lecturing in Missouri in 
the autumn, I then passed over into Michigan, then 
back into Ohio, and then into Illinois again, where 
on the 1st of January, 1892, I began work again 
for the Grand Lodge of Good Templars. 



26o Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

While I was speaking in Champaign, I received 
information, just as I was going on to the platform 
to lecture, that my mother-in-law, Mrs. Lemen, 
was dead. I shall never forget with what dif- 
ficulty I lectured that evening, until something 
seemed to speak to me and say: "Why are you 
depressed? She would have you to do just what 
you are doing. She is dead, but she speaketh 
through you. Go forward now in the line of duty." 
From that moment everything was changed, and I 
spoke with my accustomed vivacity. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 261 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

My mother-in-law's funeral — Return home — A few days' rest — 
Return to Illinois — Nominated for governor — Letter of acceptance — 
Canvass for governor — A few days' rest after the election — Lecturing in 
Illinois and Ohio — Attend the World's Fair — Enter into partnership with 
Dr. Tracy. 

After lecturing that night, I proceeded to 
Collinsville, near St. Louis, where I met the funeral 
party, consisting of Rev. J. G. Lemen, Mrs. Helen 
Denny, of Vincennes, Indiana, and Mrs. Sobieski. 
After the interment I went to Neosho with 
Mrs. Sobieski and Mrs. Denny, and after a few 
days there I returned to Illinois, where I lectured 
until the latter part of June. 

The last place visited at this time was the town 
of Magnolia, in Putnam County, a town, I suppose, 
of perhaps a thousand population, or thereabout. 
It is off the railroad some eight or ten miles, in a 
very rich country, and the people are an excellent 
class of people. After lecturing and returning to 
my hotel, I sat up and wrote till about half past 
eleven o'clock, and before going to bed I wound my 
watch, a beautiful gold watch that had been given 
me by Dr. William Ross, the great temperance 
lecturer, and which I prized more highly than any 
other property I ever possessed; and little did I 
think I was looking at it for the last time, when I 



262 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

looked to see what time it was. I then retired, and 
the next thing I knew, about half past two that 
morning, a band of robbers had entered. They 
had burst into the house, and after running all the 
guests into my room, they proceeded to loot the 
house, and rob the guests of everything they 
possessed. 

They struck me at a very bad time. I had on 
my person one hundred and ten dollars of the 
Grand Lodge funds, and two hundred dollars of 
my own money. I was intending the following 
Monday (the robbery was committed Saturday 
night) to pay on some property 1 had purchased 
in California, and so I had not converted my 
currency into drafts, which I usually did when I 
had much money about me. So I was left among 
strangers without a penny in my pocket ; but that 
same day, however, the Masonic Lodge of that 
place made me a present of twenty-five dollars, 
and the lodge of Good Templars did likewise. 
This generous action upon the part of the Good 
Templar and Masonic lodges of that place, I have 
ever appreciated, as it came wholly unsolicited 
by me. The Grand Lodge of Good Templars 
afterward canceled their claim upon me for the 
hundred and ten dollars. 

The next week I attended the National Prohi- 
bition Convention held at Cincinnati. We had 
quite a stormy session over the silver question, an 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 263 

attempt being made to endorse the free coinage of 
silver. The movement was led by Governor 
St. John of Kansas. It failed, but we put almost 
every other reform in the platform. That has 
always been the great stumbling-block, in my 
opinion, of the Prohibition party: attempting to 
do everything at once. The convention nomi- 
nated for President John Bidwell of California, and 
for Vice-President James B. Cranfill of Texas. 

General Bidwell is the only one of the candi- 
dates ever nominated by the Prohibition party, 
whom I have never had the pleasure of meeting. 
The general was born in Ohio, went to CaHfornia 
as early as 1839, and became one of the great 
landholders of that State. He has been elected 
to Congress from that State, and has held other 
places of honor and trust. He is a man of sterling 
integrity, and is honored by all who know him. 

The candidate for Vice-President, Mr. Cranfill, 
is a Baptist clergyman of high standing in his 
church, and the acknowledged leader of the tem- 
perance people of Texas. 

In May that year (1892) the Prohibition Con- 
vention of Missouri met in Chillicothe, and 
nominated me for governor. I was not present 
in the convention, being in Canada at that time 
lecturing. It was some days before I received the 
announcement of my nomination, and I was quite 
surprised thereat. I did not desire the nomination, 



264 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

and there were other reasons which, had I been 
present, would have compelled me to decHne it. I 
so wrote to Dr. Brooks, and to Hon. D. Ward King, 
the chairman of our State committee, teUing them 
that I could not see my way clear to accept the 
nomination. But they prevailed upon meto accept, 
and I did so in the following letter: 

Hon. D. Ward King, Maitland, Missouri. 

My Dear Sir:— Your letter of recent date, as chairman 
of the Prohibition State Committee informing me of my nom- 
ination for the office of governor of the State of Missouri, is 
received and its contents noted. 

To have one's name mentioned in connection with the high 
office of governor of our great State, an office that has been 
filled by so many of its gifted sons, is an honor which I highly 
appreciate. But to be nominated by a convention like that 
which recently assembled at Chillicothe, composed, as it was, of 
the bravest men and most intellectual women, is an honor, 
indeed, which one cannot too highly esteem and prize. I have 
examined the platform laid down by the convention, and I 
heartily endorse it. 

The liquor problem has been considered by all thoughtful 
men and women one of the most difficult problems to meet and 
solve. In our State we first tried the so-called Downing law, 
which many hoped would give relief from the baneful effects 
of the liquor traffic; but that proved disappointing Then we 
tried the local-option law. When that was enacted, we were 
greatly rejoiced, believing a great step forward had been made. 
We entered into the contest with enthusiasm, and more than 
eighty counties of our State were carried against the liquor 
traffic. But in most of these counties the elections have been 
set aside by subservient courts, and in a large number of others 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 265 

the laws have been rendered largely ineffective by the unfaith- 
ful prosecuting attorneys acting in the interests of the political 
parties that stand behind the liquor traffic. So it seems to us 
now that there is but one way out of it, and that must be through 
a political party that is unanimously opposed to the traffic, and 
pledged to its entire destruction. Nor do we stand alone in our 
views on the importance of the liquor problem. The Globe- 
Democrat of our State, the largest and ablest Republican paper 
in the nation, declared a few years ago that the supremacy of 
the saloon-keeper's influence was complete; and The St. Louis 
Republic, the greatest Democratic organ in the Southwest, 
smarting under the terrifific blows that were dealt the Democratic 
party by the liquor interests, caused by the enactment of the 
local-option law, declared that the saloon was the greatest 
menace to the purity of our politics and the independent action 
of legislators. Our own observation teaches us the same thing 
— aye, it teaches us more: that it is not only the power behind 
the throne, but it is the throne itself. The distinguished 
gentlemen who have been nominated for the same office that I 
have — gentlemen whose characters are such that they cannot 
have any possible sympathy with this traffic — would not dare 
to say one word either publicly or privately against it. Our 
party alone appeals to the Christian, moral, and patriotic 
elements of our State and nation to enter our ranks to combat' 
and overcome this giant evil. 

I aai glad to note that while the convention was thus so 
bravely outspoken against the liquor evil, yet they just as fear- 
lessly grappled with other social questions. 

That one-half of our people should be disfranchised on 
account of their sex — and that sex just as intellectual, and con- 
fessedly much more moral — is manifestly so unjust, that to me 
it seems superfluous to argue it. Suffrage should be predicated 
upon intelligence, and upon intelligence alone. 



2 66 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

The currency question is another question to which the 
convention addressed itself, and I agree with the convention 
that the money of our country, whether gold, silver, or paper, 
should be equal to the business demands of the country, and 
should not be less than fifty dollars per capita. 

The government ownership of railroads and telegraphs I 
have long advocated, and it is no longer an experiment. It 
has been tried in both Canada and Europe, and the electric- 
light and water-works systems, predicated upon the same prin- 
ciple, have been tried, and have in every case proven successful. 
The public domain of our country should be carefully 
guarded, so that foreigners could not in any way be owners. 
Our public lands should be for Americans, and for Ameri- 
cans only. 

I fully coincide with the convention in its views on the 
school question. Our public schools are the universities of our 
plain people, and the glory of our nation ; and religious bigotry 
must not be permitted to atiack them. The motto of every 
true American should be: "A school-house on every hilltop, 
and no saloons in the valley." 

The criminal institutions of our State should, in my 
opinion, be so conducted that they may be as free as pos- 
sible from the spirit of vindictive punishment; and the one 
object in view should be for the moral and intellectual improve- 
ment and reformation of the unfortunate inmates. That the 
lash is still permitted in our prison is a shame and disgrace to 
our State. It belongs only to the age of the rack and the 
thumbscrew. And I believe, further, that the prisoners 
should be paid for their labor; and, with this in view, that the 
contract system should be abolished and the work done inside 
the prison walls, and that, after deducting the cost of clothing 
and feeding the convicts, the balance of their earnings should 
be kept and turned over to the convict at the end of his term, 
except those who have families, and their earnings should be 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 267 

sent to the families at the end of each month. This would 
enable the convict to support his family, and it would enable 
the man without a family to have a sufficient sum of money 
ready when he closes his term to start anew in life, instead of 
leaving the prison penniless — as is often the case — and being 
driven back to a life of crime ; and it would also prevent 
cheap prison contract labor from coming in competition with 
the labor outside of the prison. I feel that, in advocating this 
humane view of the prison question, we should have the hearty 
cooperation of the Democratic, Republican, and Populist parties, 
inasmuch as every convict in the nation is either a Democrat, 
Republican, or a Populist. 

I believe that our tax laws should be so readjusted that the 
residences, or homes, of our people should be free from taxa- 
tion, except where their value is more than two thousand 
dollars. Taxation should be upon people's luxuries, and not 
upon their necessities. I believe that all church property 
should be taxed. 

Thus going before the people of the State of Missouri, and 
the nation, so manifestly just and right, we have a right to 
demand their sober and intelligent consideration. We are not 
afraid of the sting of defeat, as we know that victory has 
always been rocked in the cradle of reverses. But with our 
faith in God and the American people, and with supreme 
confidence in the justice of our cause, we go forth to battle, 
and ultimately to victory. 

John Sobieski. 
Neosho, Missouri, August 3, 1892. 

I opened the campaign at Fayette, Missouri, 
and spoke every night from then on until the night 
before the election, closing at my home, in Neosho. 

The contest was noted for one thing, and that 
was the utter lack of spirit or enthusiasm on the 



268 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

part of the old parties,- except in Missouri between 
the candidates for governor. The State of Missouri 
is strongly Democratic, but internal dissension in 
the Democratic party had reduced their majority, 
and the Populist party had drawn a large propor- 
tion of their strenofth from the Democrats. This had 
given the Republicans hope that they might at 
least elect the governor; so they nominated Colonel 
Warner of Kansas City, a man whose personal 
popularity was so great that he had been twice 
elected to Congress from a strong Democratic dis- 
trict. He was a fine campaigner. The Demo- 
cratic party had taken the alarm, and had nomi- 
nated one of their ablest and shrewdest leaders, and 
also a very popular orator, William J. Stone, of 
Nevada, Missouri. The Populists had nominated 
Colonel Leonard, of Marshall. There was no ques- 
tion at all how the State would go on the Presi- 
dent: the governor was the question. So the 
Republicans called upon all who had formerly been 
Republicans to stand with them for governor, 
anyhow, however they might vote for President; 
and the Democrats made the same kind of an 
appeal to their men. So Colonel Leonard and I 
had to suffer to some extent from these appeals. 

But I had good meetings everywhere, and the 
Democratic, Republican, and Populist papers 
treated me with every consideration and kindness. 
I do not remember of seeing during the entire 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 269 

campaign the slightest attack upon me in any 
respect. 

There was a little incident during the campaign 
that afforded me considerable amusement. I had 
spoken Saturday night at Dawson, in Nodaway 
County. Monday night I was to speak at Butler, in 
Bates County. I was anxious to get through to 
Kansas City Sunday night, so as to be sure to get 
out on the first train to Butler. But my land- 
lord got muddled in his railroad knowledge, and 
when it was too late, I found that the train going 
direct to Kansas City was gone; so I thought I 
would try to make it by way of Lexington junction. 
Arriving at the junction, I found the first train I 
could possibly get out on was at seven o'clock the 
next morning. I asked the agent if he would 
direct me to the best hotel. He said there was 
only one, and I could find that easy enough. 

Thereupon a small, rather fine-looking young 
man, said : " Come with me, I'm going right up to 
the hotel, and I'll show you the way." 

• As soon as we got out of doors, he said: " I 
want to get to Kansas City just as bad as you do, 
and I presume for the very same reason." 

I asked him what his reason was. 

"Why," he said, " Richmond, the county-seat 
of Ray County, is a local-option town. I have 
been keeping a "Blind Tiger" there, and not more 
than twenty minutes before train time, the sheriff 



270 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

came to me and told me that the grand jury had 
found forty-five indictments against me, and for me 
to skip. And I am skipping. Is that what's the 
matter with you? Where have you been running 
yours?" 

I told him I was not in the business, but I was 
anxious to get to Kansas City so as to make the 
train for Butler in the morning. 

In the morning he and I rode into Kansas City 
together, and I asked him if he would ever dare to 
go back to Richmond again. 

He said: "Oh, yes! As soon as I get to 
Kansas City and get located, I shall write to the 
prosecuting attorney and let him know where I am; 
and as soon as the grand jury rises, the prosecut- 
ing attorney will let me know, and I shall return, 
plead guilty to three or four indictments, the 
prosecuting attorney will quash the others, and I 
shall resume business at the old stand. Oh! the 
sheriff and prosecuting attorney are old friends of 
mine, and will stand by me." 

Then more than ever I saw the importance-of 
a Prohibition party, and the election of men who 
have some respect and regard for their official 
oaths. 

As the result of that election, General Bidwell 
had received for President two hundred and eighty 
thousand votes. That was the number of votes that 
were counted and returned for him, but it is a well- 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 271 

known' fact that a large number of votes that are 
given for the Prohibition candidates are never 
counted and returned. 

I remained at home after the election until the 
first of January. My first work was in Missouri, 
lecturing in the northern part of that State; then 
in the southern part, and then back into Illinois. 
I lectured for a time in Ohio, when I returned west 
to Chicago, spending two weeks at the World's 
Fair. While there I met with Dr. N. W. Tracy, 
and spent the summer speaking with him in his 
big tent. 

Dr. Tracy was born and reared in Kentucky. 
At the outbreak of the Civil War, he and his family, 
though living in a Southern State, and in that part 
of the State of Kentucky which was solid in senti- 
ment for the Southern cause, took sides with the 
Union. They suffered considerably for their senti- 
ments, and the doctor himself succeeded with con- 
siderable difficulty in making his escape into Ohio. 
He served in the Ohio troops during the war. 
Strange as it may seem, when we consider he was 
a Kentuckian, he liked his bourbon whiskey. But 
when the ''Ribbon Movement" broke out, he was 
converted, joined the Methodist Church, and 
entered the temperance field, where he has done a 
mighty work for the temperance cause. 

We had our tent meetings in Elgin, Aurora, 
Spring Valley, Streator, Kewanee, and Galesburg. 



272 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

Dr. Tracy used to go into a town as a circus 
would go into it; and I am satisfied that he had the 
correct idea in regard to advertising. His adver- 
tising matter was immense: he had one plate that 
cost him six hundred dollars. 1 have found out 
that the great trouble with our people in regard to 
our meetings is their lack of advertising thoroughly. 
Notwithstanding it was the World's Fair year and 
also the year of the great panic, we had large 
meetings everywhere, and our meetings were a 
magnificent success. Dr. Tracy was a fiery, vehe- 
ment speaker, perfectly fearless, and in a short 
time he would set a town boiling. His greatest 
forte was in "roasting" folks. I would rather 
have a whole section of the day of judgment after 
me than to have him get after me. He was a per- 
fect annihilator. 

With Dr. Tracy I became acquainted with 
Professor George L. Graham, of Elmira, New 
York. He did our stereopticon work. He was 
a perfect gentleman, warm-hearted and true. 
Our friendship has been of the warmest and clos- 
est kind ever since that year we traveled together. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 273 



CHAPTER XXVIl. 

My work in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, New York, Canada, Rhode 
Island — Lithia Springs — Rev. Jasper L. Douthit — His history — My work 
in Illinois, Missouri, etc. 

That fall and part of the winter I labored in 
Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri, Mr. Folsom being 
with me, using the stereopticon. In the spring of 
1894 I took a trip East, going as far as East 
Greenwich, Rhode Island. On my way East I 
spoke at Toronto, Canada, and Potsdam, New 
York. Then I returned West, speaking in Chicago ; 
then through to Missouri. After resting a few 
days at my home, I took a trip south as far as 
Arkansas, speaking at Bentonville, Rogers, and 
other parts of Arkansas. I then returned, and 
went west to Nebraska, lecturing in Nebraska 
until the first of August, when I returned to 
Illinois and to Lithia Springs, where I was to 
remain during the entire camp. 

Lithia Springs is a beautiful place, six miles 
east of Shelbyville; one of the most romantic spots 
in all the State of Illinois. It is a valley about 
one fourth of a mile wide, between two hills. The 
hills and sides are covered with timber. There 
are several springs in the valley, and two of them 
are only a rod apart: one is a white-sulphur 



2 74 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

spring, and the other is an iron spring. The 
analyses show that the composition of the waters 
of the springs is entirely different. Experts who 
have analyzed the water declare that it is not 
excelled by the water at Saratoga, New York, or 
the celebrated Manitou Springs of Colorado, for its 
excellent medicinal qualities. In all the West it is 
doubtful if there is a more attractive spot than 
Lithia Springs. These springs are owned at 
this writing by Rev. Jasper L. Douthit, the Uni- 
tarian minister, who resides in Shelbyville. 

Mr. Douthit's people came originally from 
the Carolinas. His great-grandfather settled in 
Shelby County at an early day. His forefathers 
were "Hard-shell" Baptists. Mr. Douthit's father 
held many places of honor and trust in Shelby 
County. He was the father of eleven children, nine 
of whom are now living. 

Jasper was the eldest of the family. He early 
evinced a desire for books and schooling, both of 
which were very hard to obtain in southern 
Illinois at that time; but by his indomitable will 
and perseverance he has succeeded in obtaining 
both. He received his education at Wabash 
College, Crawfordsville, Indiana, and the Shelby- 
ville Seminary, and later took a thorough theo- 
logical course at Meadville, Pennsylvania. There 
are few ministers in Illinois who have a larger or 
better assorted library. He was born and reared 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 275 

a Democrat, his first vote being cast for James 
Buchanan; but for some reason he doesn't seem to 
be proud of it. His next vote was cast for 
Abraham Lincoln in 1860. 

In 1857 he was united in marriage to Miss 
Emily Lovell, of Massachusetts. Miss Lovell was 
a school-teacher of rare ability. She is very quiet 
and reserved, and one has to be well acquainted 
with her before one can appreciate her great merits 
as a woman. In all of the battles which Mr. Douthit 
has fought against slavery and intemperance, she 
has stood bravely at his side ; and he gives her 
credit for the best work of his life. 

During the Civil War Mr. Douthit was a 
thorough patriot, supporting the national govern- 
ment, often at the peril of his life. As soon as the 
rebellion had ceased, he began his struggle 
against the liquor traffic, which he has kept up 
relentlessly until this day. Mr. Douthit early 
became identified with the Unitarian Christian 
movement, and was ordained to that ministry. 
He has been instrumental in helping to establish 
a half dozen independent churches in southern 
Illinois. He also has been engaged in journalism 
for many years, and is at the present time the 
editor and proprietor of Oitr Best Words, an inde- 
pendent monthly established in 1880. It advo- 
cates all righteous reforms. 



276 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

About ten years ago he began the Lithia 
Springs Assembly. It was started first as a means 
of fighting the liquor evil, but it has gradually 
widened its scope until it has become a regular 
Chautauqua assembly. By the wise and trust- 
worthy management and energy of himself and his 
son George, it has become one of the largest and 
the most successful assemblies in the West. The 
best talent of the nation has been secured. Such 
speakers as T. De Witt Talmage, Sam Jones, 
Henry Watterson, Carlos Martyn, Ballington Booth, 
George W. Bain, John G. Woolley, Hale Johnson, 
Senator William E. Mason, William J. Bryan, Dr. 
W. W. Fenn, Dr. Nash (President of Lombard 
University), Bishop McCabe, Booker T. Washing- 
ton, Bishop Arnett, ex-Congressman George 
Adams, and such women as Mary T. Lathrap of 
Michigan, Clara C. Hoffman, Helen Gougar, Mrs. 
Daisy Carlock PoUitt, Mrs. Maud B. Booth, Mrs. 
L. M. Lake, Mrs. Helen M. Barker, and others, 
have served at this assembly, many of whom have 
returned for several years in succession. Probably 
there is no assembly in the West that in so short a 
period has had so much eminent talent. 

Mr. Douthit has spent his whole life in promo- 
ting every worthy work and every good cause ; and 
he is so broad in spirit, that he knows no party 
and no sect, when good is to be accomplished. He 
is perfectly fearless, has great faith, and has no 




Jasper L. Douthit. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 277 

more doubt of the triumph of good over evil, truth 
over error, pure religion over superstition, virtue 
over vice, than he doubts the existence of the 
Almighty himself. As a speaker, he is inspira- 
tional: I have seen him capture conventions and 
conferences, carrying everything before him by 
storm. 

He has four children, two sons and two daugh-' 
ters. His elder son, George, is with him in his 
business, managing the assembly and editing the 
paper. His elder daughter, Mrs. Helen D. Garis, 
lives in Rochelle, Illinois. She is in full sympathy 
with the life-work of her parents, and has ever been 
their cheerful helper. His son Robert Collyer is 
a rising young Unitarian minister, and pastor of 
one of the oldest churches in New England. His 
younger daughter lives with him, and is one of 
the most popular young ladies in Shelbyville, and 
possesses remarkable gifts in elocutionary powers. 

For five years I have been platform manager 
at Lithia Springs. A few words in regard to two 
ladies whom I have met at Lithia Springs. 

Mrs. Clara C. Hoffman for twelve years has 
been president of the Woman's Christian Temper- 
ance Union of Missouri, and for some three or 
four years recording secretary of the National 
Woman's Christian Temperance Union. She 
is one of the most remarkable women that has 
been developed by that organization. For some 



278 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

years she was connected with the city schools of 
Kansas City. When she became connected with 
the Woman's Christian Temperance Union work, 
she forged rapidly to the front, and soon took her 
place among the foremost women of her day. 
From a purely intellectual standpoint, I doubt 
whether she has her equal on the platform to-day. 

It was in 1894 that I met Mrs. Daisy Carlock, 
now Mrs. Pollitt, for the first time. Mrs. Daisy 
Carlock Politt was the daughter of Dr. Hubbard, 
of Hudson, Illinois. She came of a family 
noted for their intellectual gifts and personal 
beauty. She graduated from the State Normal 
School, at Normal, Illinois, when she was but 
eighteen years old. She shortly afterward mar- 
ried a merchant of that town, Mr. Carlock. After 
a few years he died, and she began her great 
career as a teacher. She was soon called to 
Berea College, at Berea, Kentucky. She is a sister 
of Elbert Hubbard, the promoter of the famous 
Roycroft establishment of East Aurora, New York. 

The family had always been an ardent temper- 
ance one, so she attached herself at once to the 
Woman's Christian Temperance Union, and with 
her splendid education and ability soon became 
very prominent in that organization. She was 
twice elected State vice-president, and for more 
than a year she was secretary of the Central Union 
in Chicago. During the World's Fair her posi- 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 279 

tion brought her in contact with reformers 
from every part of the world. A better person 
could not have been in that position, as she could 
talk with each one in his own language. She won 
great praise from everybody. As a speaker, she 
is winsome, witty, and wise. She was so charm- 
ing in her personality that she captivated every- 
body with whom she came in contact. It was a 
great misfortune to the temperance cause when she 
returned to educational work. Later she married 
Rev. Mr. Pollitt, one of the leading Methodist 
divines in Kentucky. 

In the fall of 1894 and the winter of 1894-95 
I lectured in Illinois and Missouri. While speak- 
ing in Hannibal, Missouri, I received a letter from 
my little daughter Mary, telling me in her letter 
that her little brother John was sick. My daugh- 
ter was attending school at Council Bluffs, stop- 
ping with her uncle, Rev. J. G. Lemen. I would 
not have been much troubled by what she wrote, 
as she did not speak of him being very sick, had it 
not been for a dream which I had the night before. 

I am not at all superstitious, and yet there was 
something about the dream that so impressed me 
that I could not shake it off. I thought I was 
aboard of a train of cars, when a gentleman with 
whom I was well acquainted, came up, and clap- 
ping me on the shoulder with his hand, said: 
"Where are you going?" 



28o Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

I dreamed that I burst into tears and said: " I 
am going to the bedside of my dying boy." 

That morning I had been out making some 
calls, and was returning to the hotel, when I met a 
young man, a friend of mine, who said that Mr. 
Brown had a telegram for me, and that it was very 
important for me to come to his office at once. 
Upon arriving at his office, Mr. Brown, a very 
kind and sympathetic man, put his hand on my 
shoulder and said: "My brother, have courage 
now and be strong." 

Upon opening the telegram, I found it was a 
telegram from my brother-in-law, telling me to 
come at once, for John was dying. Within twenty 
minutes I was on the train, and a little way out of 
Hannibal the identical incident of my dream 
occurred. I was compelled to wait at St. Joseph, 
Missouri, eight hours. I arrived at Council Bluffs 
at six o'clock in the morning, to learn that my boy 
had died at midnight the night before. The next 
Sunday afternoon we buried him in the beautiful 
cemetery of Council Bluffs, but in the beautiful 
Beyond we shall meet him again. 

I returned to my home at Neosho for a few 
weeks, taking up my lecture work again in Missouri, 
where I lectured until the meeting of the Lithia 
Springs Assembly that summer; though that 
year, I come to think of it, I was at the Havana 
( Illinois) Assembly first, where I remained during 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 281 

the entire assembly, delivering four lectures and 
assisting Mr. Wilkin in the management of 
the meeting. I presided at the debate between 
Hon. William J. Bryan and Hon. William E. 
Mason. I gave a brief sketch of Mr. Bryan's life, 
and said I did not believe the Democratic party 
could do any better than to nominate Mr. Bryan 
for the presidency the next year. The Democracy 
seemed to take me at my word, and nominated 
him, though at that time his name hadn't been 
suggested. 

That year I lectured through Illinois, Missouri, 
and Michigan, up to the beginning of the campaign 
of 1896. 



282 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 



CHAPTER XXVIIl. 

Pittsburg convention — A division in the party — Lithia Springs — My 
work during the campaign —Result of the election — A few weeks' rest — 
Speaking again in Illinois and Missouri — The Toronto session of the 
Supreme Lodge. 

The National Prohibition Convention in 1896 
was held in the city of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. 
For some years there had been more or less divi- 
sion in the party touching the silver question. 

There was an element led by Governor St. John, 
and supported by Mr. Wheeler of New York (the 
editor of the New York Voice), J. Lloyd Thomas of 
New York, Van Bennett of Kansas, and others, 
who wished to- put the party upon the platform of 
the free coinage of silver, sixteen to one. There 
was another element of the party, of which the 
leader was Samuel Dickie, the chairman of our 
national committee, which was very much opposed 
to the party taking that position, believing that it 
was wisest by far to keep the party right along the 
line it had started out on — the destruction of 
the liquor traffic. In the latter part of the contro- 
versy there developed another sentiment in the 
party, which was in favor of putting the party upon 
one idea — prohibition. This was led by John G. 
Woolley, one of the ablest and most popular 
leaders our party ever had. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 283 

John G. Woolley was born in Collinsville, 
Butler County, Ohio, the same county in which 
that other well-known prohibition orator, Lou J. 
Beauchamp, was born. He was educated at the 
Delaware University, in Ohio, began his career as 
attorney at law, and rapidly took a front rank in 
that profession. But he became addicted to the 
use of strong drink, which threatened to ruin his 
splendid career at one time. But after many 
vicissitudes, he turned over a new leaf and espoused 
the cause of temperance and prohibition, and he 
is regarded everywhere as the exponent of the 
uncompromising element in the temperance reform. 
The great ability of the man, his scholarly attain- 
ments and oratorical gifts, would make any cause 
which he espoused prominent and respected. 

A contest began in the convention, by Mr. Dickie, 
national chairman, attempting to force on the con- 
vention an obnoxious man for temporary chairman; 
that is, a man who was obnoxious to the free-silver 
element in the party. This action aroused the 
spirit that finally split the convention. When the 
committee on platform reported, there was a major- 
ity and a minority report. Several planks of the 
platform had been adopted, including woman suf- 
frage. When the free-silver plank was reached, it 
was defeated by forty majority. During the con- 
fusion and excitement of the moment, amotion was 
made by Mr. Patton of Illinois to strike out all of 



284 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

the platform except prohibition. Now, a large por- 
tion of those who had favored free silver joined 
with those who had always been in favor of that 
single idea in the platform, and the motion of Mr. 
Patton was adopted. The convention then pro- 
ceeded, and nominated Joshua Levering of Maryland 
for President, and Hale Johnson of Illinois for 
Vice-President. 

Mr. Levering, the presidential nominee, lives 
in Baltimore, Maryland, and is a prominent importer 
and merchant of that city. He is also a leading 
layman in the Baptist Church, active in all philan- 
thropic movements, and is considered the head of 
the Prohibition party in that State. 

Hale Johnson, of Illinois, the candidate for Vice- 
President, was, at the time he was nominated, the 
Prohibition nominee for governor of Illinois. He 
was a brave soldier in the Civil War on the Union 
side, is an able lawyer, and a man of high character. 

The broad-gauge element withdrew from the 
convention at night, organized a convention, 
adopted a platform, nominated Rev. Mr. Bentley 
of Nebraska for President, and Mr. Southgate of 
North Carolina for Vice-President, and took the 
name of the National party. This party at the 
outset gave promise of making a lively campaign. 
Such leaders as John P. St. John, J. Lloyd Thomas, 
and Mrs. Helen Gougar — who is one of the best- 
known and one of the ablest woman speakers I 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 285 

ever heard — would make everything lively that 
they undertook. But when the Democratic party 
adopted free silver as their slogan, this party 
rapidly disintegrated. Mr. Bentley, their candi- 
date, received less than fourteen thousand votes 
for the presidency, most of this party going over to 
support Mr. Byran. 

I did not take an active part during that 
campaign, as usual, although I spoke for and voted 
for Mr. Levering. Mr. Levering received about 
one hundred and forty thousand votes in the country.' 

During August of this year (1896) I was plat- 
form manager at Lithia Springs Assembly, where I 
presided at the debate there between ex-Governor 
St. John and Hon. William E. Mason, on the finan- 
cial question. It was an intensely interesting, and 
a good-humored discussion. The disputants were 
quite courteous to each other. Both are men of 
very popular qualities. I have spoken of ex- 
Governor St. John in another place. I will now 
speak of Mr. Mason. 

I found Mr. Mason a genial, warm-hearted, 
sympathetic man. I must confess that his career 
in the United States Senate has been to me a 
pleasant surprise. I took it for granted that he was 
an intense partisan, and would cheerfully obey the 
dictum of his party chief; and doubtless, if he had 
been consulting his own personal interest, he would 
have done so: but in the Senate he has shown a 



286 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

laudable independence. He has not only antago- 
nized the administration, but the entire leadership 
of his party, in standing by his convictions for what 
he thinks is for the best interest of country and 
humanity. He has recently declared in a letter to 
a friend, that he would rather be one of the people 
to help elect senators, than to be in the Senate and 
stultify his conscience. The principles that seem 
to govern Senator Mason are lofty patriotism and 
an enlightened humanitarianism. 

After the presidential election was over, I 
returned to my home in Missouri, where I remained 
till after the holidays. Then I returned to Illinois, 
and took up my work again, traveling with Mr. 
Folsom until the latter part of May. That summer 
I was again at Lithia Springs, and early in Septem- 
ber began my work in Illinois under the Prohibi- 
tion party, working with them until in the winter, 
when, owing to sickness, Mr. Wilson, State 
secretary, could no longer direct my work; so I 
resumed work for the Good Templars. I remained 
most of that winter in Chicago, and worked under 
the auspices of the Good Templars until the first 
of June. 

I had been having considerable trouble with my 
stomach for the last ten years of my life — indeed, I 
can say for twenty years — caused by the shot 
through my body at Gettysburg; but in the last 
ten years some of my attacks had been very 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 287 

severe. I had sought many remedies, but all 
seemed to fail ; and the first of June, 1898, my 
condition had become quite alarming. I was only 
able to take a little warm water and bread, the 
bread being thoroughly toasted; and my agony at 
times was exceeding great, even with that diet. 

So, by the advice of some friends, 1 abandoned 
all work, resolved that I would have a thorough 
examination of myself by a competent physician, 
and see what I had better do. I remained in 
Chicago three days, spending the time with a 
doctor — one of the best in the city. He told me 
that my stomach had become thoroughly ulcerated, 
and no power on earth could be of any help to me; 
that I might possibly live a couple of months, but 
not any longer. 

The doctor was a very conscientious, Christian 
man, and he told me that afternoon that he had 
known me for twenty-five years and knew my good 
work, and while it would be sad to my family, yet 
the Lord had dealt graciously with me, and I 
should rejoice to think that I was so soon to be an 
inhabitant of the Golden City. While I knew that 
the Golden City was all right, and did not at all 
doubt its existence, or that I would be welcomed 
there, yet, for some reason or other, I didn't care 
about taking the first train. While I did not 
become at all alarmed or frightened, still I was 
determined not to take the trip if I could possibly 



288 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

help it ; but I felt sure that, if I continued at work, 
I probably would. 

So, upon an invitation from a friend of mine in 
Missouri, I started for his abode. I met with a 
royal welcome at the home of my old friend, W. H. 
Gilhousen. I became acquainted with the family 
of Mr. Gilhousen when I was a candidate for gov- 
ernor in 1892. It is an ideal Christian home. 
Mr. Gilhousen, a landscape and portrait painter of 
great skill, was a veteran in the Civil War. He 
has a family of eight children, six sons and two 
daughters, all handsome, smart, and good. They 
are all members of the Methodist Church. A 
father and mother who can bring up such a family 
as Mr. and Mrs. Gilhousen have brought up, ought 
to be pensioned by the government. If our whole 
nation was made up of such people as the 
Gilhousen family, the millennium would be upon us. 

I was at this house for a month. Meanwhile 
we went out on the Des Moines on a fishing trip, 
and had a pleasant time. We carried our big tent 
with us, and spent our time gunning and fishing — 
that is, my friends did. I never kill things, neither 
fish nor birds. I simply do the eating, and let 
some one else enjoy the killing. 

From there I went to Nevada, Missouri, to be 
treated by Professor Weltmer. A day or two 
after my arrival at Nevada, I met some ministers 
in that city who were old acquaintances of mine. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 289 

who informed me that Professor Weltmer was a 
humbug, and that he had never in the least helped 
anyone who had come there for treatment. I 
remained there for two weeks. I was wonderfully 
benefited, and went away feeling better than I had 
for many years. Sometimes I have a recurrence 
of the old trouble; but, as I understand, almost 
everybody similarly afflicted has those attacks. 

From Nevada I went to Piasa Bluffs, near St. 
Louis. I arrived at Lithia Springs the latter part 
of the assembly, where I was enthusiastically 
received by my old friends at the camp. 

Mr. Oliver W. Stewart had charge of the plat- 
form in my place, which he conducted with great 
success, as he always does anything he under- 
takes. Mr Stewart is a young man. At the 
time of writing this book (1899) he is about 
thirty-two years of age. He was born and reared 
in Illinois, and, like most of those who eventually 
come to greatness, he was born in very humble 
circumstances ; but he pushed his way up through 
every obstacle. Graduating from Eureka College, 
he entered upon the ministry in the Christian, 
or Disciple Church. As a presiding officer at 
the Pittsburg convention, he won praises from 
everyone. As a speaker, he is pleasant and 
forcible, winning friends for himself and the cause 
everywhere. 



290 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

After the assembly at Lithia Springs was over^ 
I lectured in Illinois until near the holidays. A 
few days before I went to Missouri, I was the 
guest of that royal preacher, whole-souled gentle- 
man, and old-time friend. Rev. J. G. Evans, D. D. 
I consider Dr. J. G. Evans one of the ablest 
divines in the whole country, and a natural-born 
reformer. He, like my friend Rev. Douthit, in 
all of the forty years of his ministry, whether as a 
circuit minister or a stationed minister, presiding 
elder, president of a college, delegate in a general 
conference of his Church, has always stood for the 
right and opposed the wrong ; to be in- the 
minority has no terror for him. If all the 
ministers and bishops of that mighty Methodist 
Church would only stand where Dr. Evans does, 
we would drive the devil out of this country in the 
next five years. 

I, with my family, spent Christmas with Mr. 
Gilhousen. After the holidays I began work 
under the auspices of the Woman's Christian 
Temperance Union, and continued working under 
their auspices until the latter part of June, with the 
exception of two weeks that I spent in St. Louis 
working under the auspices of the new organiza- 
tion called the Prohibition Union of Christian 
Men. This is a new movement inaugurated 
recently in Rochester, New York. Mr. C. N. 
Howard, the founder, is a business man in Roches- 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 291 

ter, New York, a man of great power upon the 
platform; and the movement under his direction 
has met with great success wherever it has been 
organized, and I am watching it with a great deal 
of interest as to the outcome. Mr. Howard is a 
man who seems to be wise and discreet in all of 
his movements, and my faith in him is boundless. 

The latter part of June I went to Toronto, 
Canada, to the meeting of the Right Worthy 
Grand Lodge of Good Templars, or, as it is now 
styled, the International Supreme Lodge. At the 
meeting of the Illinois Grand Lodge of Good 
Templars in October, 1898, I was elected unani- 
mously to go to Toronto. Uriah Copp of Loda, 
and Bateman Ganly of Chicago, were chosen as 
my colleagues. When the 'time of the session 
arrived, brother Ganly being unable to attend, sister 
R. J. Hazlett, one of the alternates, took his place. 
A question of importance affecting the Grand 
Lodge of Illinois was coming up. 

There are some twelve or fifteen lodges of 

o 

Scandinavians, mostly in the city of Chicago, who 
have been seeking for years to obtain a charter 
for a separate Grand Lodge. The Supreme 
Lodge has by a large majority at each session 
been favorable to that project; but by the charter 
of the Grand Lodge of Illinois, no charter can be 
granted without the consent of the Grand Lodge 
of Illinois. The membership of the order is now 



292 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

principally outside of the American continent, and 
they are not inclined to respect the charter rights 
of the Grand Lodge of Illinois ; taking the high 
ground that the Supreme Lodge is supreme to 
everything else, and that they are not under obli- 
gation to respect any constitution whatsoever. 
Three times by a large majority they have voted 
to grant the charter, but it requires a two-third 
vote, which they have never been able to secure. 

Mr. Malins, the Supreme Templar, has been 
the Scandinavian champion in this matter; and, as 
the consent of the Grand Lodge of Illinois to the 
formation of this separate Grand Lodge had been 
refused some three or four times, brother Malins 
had conceived a great dislike for, or prejudice 
against, the Grand Lodge of Illinois, and especially 
the Grand Chief Templar, whom he believed to be 
the principal obstacle in the way of the movement. 
Brother Malins was a man of great ability and 
power in debate, and his influence over the foreign 
delegation seemed almost beyond limit. So we 
knew that the battle at Toronto would be a royal 
one, and I regarded the battle at the beginning to 
be a hopeless one for our side. 

I found the Supreme Lodge at Toronto quite a 
different body from that with which I had met the 
last time. I had not met with the body since the 
Richmond session, in 1886. At Toronto I found 
the leaders of the body to be Supreme Templar 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 293 

Malins, Uriah Copp of Illinois, Dr. Oronhyatekha 
of Canada, W.. Martin Jones of New York, 
Theodore D. Kanouse of California, E. W. Chafin 
of Wisconsin, Hon. Samuel D. Hastings of Wis- 
consin, W. H. Clark of Wisconsin, J. Bennett 
Anderson of England, brother John Smith of South 
Africa, brother Wheeler of Maine, sister Richards 
of Ohio, sister Anna Saunders of Nebraska, and 
others. 

Dr. Oronhyatekha, of Canada, has been Su- 
preme Templar, and is one of the greatest men 
our order ever produced. He is a full-blooded 
Indian, and a graduate of Oxford University in 
England. He is a perfect prince in appearance, 
six feet, three inches high, and weighs two hundred 
and fifty pounds. He is a light copper color, with 
those great big, jet-black eyes, so pleasant and 
winsome in appearance when in private conversa- 
tion with friends; but when in a hot debate they 
send out constant flashes of chain lightning. I 
never knew his equal as a debater in any body 
that he might be in. Whether a member of the 
British Parliament or a member of the United 
States Senate, he would be a recognized leader. 

E. W. Chafin, of Wisconsin, Past Grand 
Chief Templar of that State, and late Prohibition 
candidate for governor, is one of the ablest men of 
the order. He is the very personification of 
strength and manliness; forty-five years old, six 



294 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

feet high, weighing- two hundred pounds. He is 
an able and experienced debater, one of the best 
attorneys in Wisconsin, forceful in character, 
genial in manners, and loved by everybody. . 

W. Martin Jones, of New York, Past GrandChief 
Templar, is a man of wide experience and great 
culture. He has represented our government 
abroad, and has been the candidate of his party for 
governor of the Empire State. He is also one ot 
the leading magazine writers of this country. As 
an antagonist' he is to be feared and respected. 

Brother W. H. Clark, Grand Chief Templar of 
Wisconsin, is one of the rising young men of the 
order. He came to Wisconsin about ten years 
ago to work for the Good Templars. Within two 
years he was put at the head of the order. In a 
state like Wisconsin, where they have so much 
good material for leadership, it was a great compli- 
ment; but he has been elected each year without 
any opposition at all. He is a man of right judg- 
ment, and Christian in spirit and character. He 
has a great future before him. 

Brother Smith, of South Africa, had come 
twelve thousand miles to attend the meeting. It 
was his first time in the Supreme Lodge. He at 
once came to the front and won the esteem of all. 

Brother Wheeler, of Maine, is pastor of an 
independent church in that State, and is one of the 
brightest men I ever met. 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 295 

Sister Anna Saunders, of Nebraska, as Grand 
Chief Templar of Nebraska, won a high reputation. 
She brought the order in that State to a high state 
of efficiency, and the Supreme Lodge showed its 
appreciation by electing her to the highest office 
to which any women was ever elevated in our 
order. 

Sister Richards, of Ohio, in the last ten years 
has become one . of the best-known and ablest 
speakers of our order. Entertaining and instruc- 
tive as a speaker, strong in mind and body, and 
still in her prime, she has a great future before her. 



296 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

The debate and decision on the Scandinavian question — Lithia 
Springs — Grand Lodge of Good Templars of Illinois, etc. — Conclusion 
— The wolf in sheep's clothing unmasked— A great crime. 

On the third day of the session the debate on 
the Scandinavian question was opened by the 
Grand Chief Templar of Scotland advocating the 
granting of the charter. Chafin of Wisconsin 
replied in a masterly speech, showing it would be 
a violation of the charter rights of Illinois, and if 
the courts were invoked, the Right Worthy Grand 
Lodge would be beaten. Then the debate went 
over until Saturday night. After the election of 
officers, Supreme Templar Malins left the chair, 
and in a speech of an hour advocated the granting 
of the charter. His speech was so plausible — for 
Mr. Malins is a master of sophistry — and made 
so profound an impression upon the body, that I 
believe, had the vote been taken at that time, 
Mr. Malins would easily have won the victory. It 
was getting late now — half past ten — and many 
had retired from the hall. Grand Chief Templar 
Copp took the floor and began a crushing reply to 
Mr. Malins, riddling his sophistry through and 
through. His speech was making such a profound 
impression that he was appealed to to give way 
for an adjournment, so that he could speak to a 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 297 

full house Monday morning-. He did so on the 
condition that, as I was compelled to leave on 
Sunday night, I should be permitted to speak 
then. This they agreed to unanimously. It was 
now eleven o'clock. 

When I took the floor I thanked the members 
for their courtesy in allowing me to speak at that 
time of the night. I briefly recounted my past 
services for the order, and the fact that for thirty 
years I had been a member of the body was my 
apology for speaking at that late hour." I told 
them I was there to speak for the Grand Lodge of 
Illinois; that I was opposed to granting a charter; 
first, because they had no right to grant it without 
the consent of the Illinois Grand Lodge and that 
the act 'would be illegal, and everyone of us who 
voted for the granting of the charter would be vio- 
lating our obligation as Good Templars; next, that 
it was unnecessary and inexpedient; that the 
Grand Lodge of Illinois was amply able to do the 
business for all concerned; that the Scandinavian 
members had their own subordinate lodge and 
district lodge, and their ritual and constitutions 
printed in their own language; and, furthermore, I 
was unalterably opposed to it on principle; that it 
was the greatest mistake in the world for foreign 
people coming to the United States, to organize to 
perpetuate their languages and customs; that I 
thanked God I was an American, and that I always 



298 Life of Colonel John Sobleski. 

had opposed and always would oppose any and 
every effort to perpetuate foreignism — if that word 
is allowable — in the land of my adoption. Born 
in Poland, as I was, I would not advocate the 
organization of a Polish Lodge of Good Templars; 
and if one was organized, I would never be a mem- 
ber of it. I closed by appealing to the mem- 
bers to stand up for a Grand Lodge that for more 
than forty years had maintained its integrity, dis- 
charged every obligation to the body, and, through 
sunshine and storm, whose loyalty had never been 
impeached. 

When I sat down the body immediately 
adjourned. I was immediately surrounded by 
both parties, who showered upon me their warmest 
congratulations. 

I left Toronto on Sunday night, but on the 
assembling of the body on Monday morning, 
Mr. Copp took the floor and spoke for more than 
an hour with all the eloquence and powder of which 
that gifted gentleman is capable. He was followed 
by Mrs. Genie Hazlett, who made a telling speech 
in support of the Grand Lodge of Illinois. The 
debate lasted until noon, when the vote was taken; 
and the motion to grant the charter was lost, and 
that ended the battle. 

I returned to Illinois to deliver the Fourth-of- 
July oration at Lithia Springs. Going up into 
McDonough County, where I spoke a week, I then 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 299 

proceeded to Waupaca, Wisconsin, to attend the 
Good Templar Assembly. I found the assembly 
located on beautiful grounds, which are owned 
by a Good Templar stock company. It is 
located on what is called the Chain O'Lakes. It 
takes the name from the fact that thirteen lakes 
are united so that a boat can pass into all thirteen 
of them. It is six miles out from Waupaca. 

At this assembly I had the pleasure of meeting- 
many old friends and making many new ones: 
W. H. Clark and wife and daughter, E. W. Chafin, 
Mr. Bonesteel of Fairwater and his charming wife, 
Miss Tweedin of Milwaukee, Colonel B. F. Parker, 
and others. 

I met at this assembly my old friend Rev. L. B. 
Walker of Milwaukee. Brother Walker, after 
being a minister for many years on the Pacific 
Coast, and filling some of the most prominent pulpits 
of California, is now located in Milwaukee, and 
has been for the last eight or ten years devoting 
his entire time to the temperance cause. His 
coming to our ranks was a great help. He is a 
man of rare gifts in many respects, and he will 
popularize any cause that he espouses. 

His wife, Mrs. Altie Reed Walker, is one of the 
best-known Good Templar workers in the West. 
She is a niece of the celebrated Rev. Myron Reed, 
of Denver, Colorado. I had the pleasure of making 
her acquaintance in the fall of 1883. She had just 



300 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

been elected superintendent of the Juvenile 
Templars of that State. She held this position, I 
think, for some six or seven years, and was 
probably one of the most popular Grand Lodge 
officers that Wisconsin ever had, and that is say- 
ing much; but she is loved by everyone that 
comes in contact with her, on account of the 
genuineness of her nature and her desire to help 
mankind. She has been a great patron of the 
Christian Home at Council Bluffs, and her name is 
very much revered by all who are connected with 
that institution. 

The camp is named for Captain Cleghorn, 
former Grand Chief Templar of that State. Cap- 
tain Cleghorn was born in Canada, and came to 
Wisconsin I think when he was quite young. He 
enthusiastically accepted American institutions, 
and became a true American. At the outbreak of 
the Civil War he entered the service, and at the 
siege of Vicksburg received a wound that disabled 
him for life. On account of his gallantry in that 
battle he was made a captain in the regular army 
and placed on the retired list. 

He entered into the temperance work as a 
speaker and lecturer about twenty years ago, and 
became very popular. When Brother Kanouse 
retired from the Grand Chief Templarship of 
Wisconsin, the Grand Lodge of that State had a 
great task before them. Brother Kanouse had 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 301 

been so long at the head of the order, and so pop- 
ular, that it was hard for anyone to take his place. 
The Grand Lodge of Wisconsin did a wise act in 
selecting brother Cleghorn as his successor. For 
four years he filled that office with great success, 
retiring on account of failing health. It has always 
been the plan of Wisconsin to send none except 
their ablest members to the Supreme Lodge. I 
think Captain Cleghorn was elected representative 
each year for ten or fifteen years. Upon entering 
that body, his ability was -at once recognized, and 
he always headed important committees. There 
was no position in the Supreme Lodge but he could 
have been chosen to, had he so desired. He died 
suddenly while riding on a street-car in Denver, 
Colorado, in the spring of 1898. What a sad day 
that was to us aH when we heard of his death, 
for we all loved him. 

My stay of nearly two weeks at the assembly 
was among the most pleasant events of my life. 
From Camp Cleghorn I came to Lithia Springs, 
had a happy reunion with many old friends, and 
listened to some of the ablest speakers in America. 
Lithia Springs Assembly stands at the head of 
all assemblies in the West for the array of talent 
which it presents every year to the people. 

After resting a few days at the close of the 
assembly, I made an address at Charleston, and 
at Ashmore at a picnic. I then went East and 



302 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

delivered a series of addresses in New York under 
the auspices of the Prohibition Union of Chris- 
tian Men. 

. Mr. C. N. Howard, the founder of that organ- 
ization, is a young man of remarkable powers. At 
this writing he is thirty-two years old, and will 
weigh about one hundred and twenty pounds. He 
is a business man in Rochester. He began this 
movement in that city some two years ago. There 
was no city in the Union, perhaps, where the liquor 
element was stronger or-where it was more defiant ; 
and yet this movement under the management of 
Mr. Howard has revolutionized public sentiment 
completely. He has since organized unions in 
Syracuse, Utica, and Ithaca, in the East, and St. 
Louis in the West. I can only account for Mr. 
Howard's wonderful powers on the ground that he 
is called and ordained of God for this great work. 
I spoke for sixteen nights in New York — in 
Rochester, Utica, Syracuse, Lysander. Ithaca, 
Geneseo, and Hornellsville. I have not addressed 
such meetings for size and enthusiasm in twenty 
years. I now returned West, and spoke a week 
in Michigan under the auspices of brother O. W. 
Blain, the Grand Chief Templar of that State. 

Brother Blain had been a business man in 
Grand Rapids until about ten years ago, when 
he entered the temperance field. He is one 
of the most successful organizers our order 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 303 

has ever had. He Is so conscientious, and his 
work is so thoroughly done, that the results 
are the very best. He is genial, warm-hearted, 
constantly bubbling over with humor — it is a bene- 
diction to know him. To be in his lovely home, 
presided over by his accomplished wife, is a pleas- 
ure that one never forgets. 

After lecturing a week in Michigan, I returned 
to Illinois and attended the Grand Lodge of Good 
Templars. At this session brother Uriah Copp 
closed his long service as Grand Chief Templar of 
this jurisdiction. Here I again met brother R. J. 
Hazlett and wife. Brother Hazlett has been for 
sixteen years Grand Secretary of Illinois. He had 
long been a member of his subordinate lodge 
when he was elected Grand Secretary, but had 
been a member of the Grand Lodge only one year; 
so he was quite unknown to the order. And yet, 
from the fact that he has been sixteen times elected 
Grand Chief Secretary, the esteem in which he is 
held by the Grand Lodge is made plain. Twelve 
times he has been chosen by a unanimous vote. 
He and brother B, F. Parker of Wisconsin are 
recognized as the ablest secretaries in the body. 
He is very quiet and reserved in his manners, and 
so Christian in his life, character, and conduct, 
that he is respected by all. His wife, formerly 
Miss Genie Nash, was a field worker when I 
became acquainted with her. A woman of fine 



304 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

literary ability, a good speaker, persevering in 
whatever she undertakes, she scarcely ever knows 
what failure is. She is a thorough Good Templar 
in every respect. She has been a great help to 
her husband in his work. She is associate editor 
of the Inte7^7iatio7ial Good Templar, a magazine 
that is the organ of the order. 

After the Grand Lodge had adjourned, I lect- 
ured in Decatur for a week. I then went to Coles 
County, where I spoke at Hutton. I attended the 
Unitarian State Conference at Bloomington, and 
returned to Shelbyville and made arrangements 
for the writing of this life history. 

At the Decatur Prohibition camp-meeting in 
1889 I met Mrs. Helen Gougar. I knew consider- 
able of her by reputation, and had read some of 
her speeches, so I was prepared to a certain 
extent to meet the kind of person I met. Mrs. 
Gougar is a vigorou's woman, both in body and 
mind. When I met her I should have judged her 
to be about forty-five. She is a natural-born 
agitator and reformer. She took a part in this 
country in favor of Ireland. She has been and is a 
prominent advocate of woman suffrage. She was 
for years one of the ablest orators of the Prohibi- 
tion party; but in the last presidential election 
(1896) she became a vehement advocate of the 
currency reform, supporting Mr. Bryan. If any 
one thinks of antagonizing Mrs. Gougar on any 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 305 

question, I would advise him to go armed at every 
point. In her private intercourse with people she 
is very charming and pleasant. As a talker I 
never met one so inexhaustible. I never yet knew 
her to deliberately close a speech and sit down: 
she always talks until something happens — the 
platform gives way, or lightning strikes a tree, or 
the bell rings for dinner, or the train that she 
wants to go on, leaves. Mrs. Gougar is a very 
fine-looking woman, with red cheeks, an abundance 
of white hair, and would be a marked person in 
any assembly. 

One of the brightest young men coming 
up along his line is Mr. A. E. Wilson, the secre- 
tary of the Prohibition committee of Illinois. He 
began his career on the Chicago Lever some ten 
years ago, and was connected with that paper 
until some two or three years ago, since when he 
has devoted his entire time as secretary of the 
Prohibition committee, and has made a decided 
success. A couple of years ago he took unto 
himself a wife, who is a very bright and charming 
woman. 

Another successful worker is Rev. George M. 
Bassett, for sixteen years the Assistant Grand Sec- 
retary of the Good Templars of Illinois, and a 
brother of C. W. Bassett, for some years Grand 
Secretary. Brother Bassett is a graduate of the 
Northwestern University, and also of the Garret 



3o6 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

Theological School. He has been a very promi^- 
nent and successful minister of the Rock River 
Conference. He is a man of a decided personality, 
with a rich, warm nature, frank and open-hearted, 
manly and true ; a thorough friend, and I have 
loved him all these years as a brother. And his 
wife is one of the best of women, finely educated, 
and a true helpmeet. 

Another one who has been a coworker with 
me in the Prohibition cause in Illinois for many 
years, is Colonel James Felter. I think some of 
the strongest speeches I ever heard in behalf of the 
Prohibition party were made by this distin- 
cruished champion of our cause. He is a man of 
striking appearance, something over six feet high, 
a magnificent head, dark blue eyes; the very pic- 
ture of strength and manliness. He was a gallant 
soldier during the Civil War, and is very popular in 
Grand- Army-of-the -Republic circles. 

I have organized two thousand and eighty-six 
lodges of Good Templars, and taken into the order 
ninety thousand members. In all of my eight 
hundred thousand miles of travel, I have never been 
aboard a boat, or a ship, or a train, when there 
has been anyone injured by accident. 

Though I am fifty-seven years of age at this 
time, I am not conscious of the slightest decadence 
in any of my mental or physical powers. During 
the last year, on one occasion I rode thirty miles 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 307 

by private conveyance, and made four speeches in 
one day, and felt in splendid condition when I 
retired. 

My life up to the present time has been 
exceedingly happy. My work has brought me in 
contact and association with the best people in 
the world, and I am not aware that I have an 
enemy on earth. I am sure that I am not an 
enemy of anybody in the world. And if I had my 
life to live over again, I would choose the same 
path ; avoiding, however, some of the mistakes that 
I have made. And I think my life has been a 
remarkably successful one, considering the small 
amount of mental capital I had invested. 

Some years ago I was the guest for a night at 
the home of a distinguished American statesman, 
who has been the governor of his State, and is now 
serving on his third term in the United States 
Senate. He and I had become acquainted when 
we were both just starting out in life. We were 
both born in the same year. In addition to 
his success politically, he has been very successful 
financially, being a millionaire. During the evening 
a gentleman called on him, and they stepped into 
the library, which was just off from the parlor, 
leaving me to be entertained by his very charming 
and witty wife. During our talk the lady told a 
witty story — for she was a very good story-teller — 
and I gave a very hearty laugh, as I often do. 



3o8 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

After his wife had retired, he said to me: 
"How much money have you accumulated?" 

I told him I couldn't tell exactly, but I would 
see in a minute. I was pretty flush that day. 
When I went down into my pocket, I found twelve 
dollars and sixty-two cents. 

"Well," said my distinguished friend, "the 
world generally would say that I have been the 
more successful man of the two. I have all the 
political honors I ever aspired to, and have 
accumulated more wealth than I ever expected to. 
You have none of these things, and yet you are the 
happier man of the two. I see by your talk that 
you believe In everybody, while I believe in 
hardly anybody. Your life has been such that you 
have seen the best side of mankind ; mine has been 
such that I have seen the worst side of mankind. 
1 have a lot of political friends, yet I know they 
wouldn't hesitate to cut my throat, metaphorically 
speaking, or trample me under foot at any time 
when It would advance their interests. I thought 
when I heard you laugh to-night while I was in the 
library, that I would give half of my fortune if I 
could give such a hearty laugh as that." 

I have often been asked where I received my 
education. I have to answer that up to the age of 
eleven years my mother taught me; and since then 
I have picked up all that I have. I never went to 
school a day in my life. I always had a passion 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 309 

for books — and the best of books; I have never 
read any of the light, trashy literature. The 
works of fiction that I have read have for the most 
part been standard works. My reading has gen- 
erally been historical, biographical, travels, sociol- 
ogy. The magazines that I have read chiefly have 
been the Centttry, Arena, Foj^tmi, North American 
Review, and Harper s Magazine. I have often 
been asked what my method of learning to read 
English was. That was quite easy for me: the 
Polish language has the Latin letters the same as 
the English language; so just as soon as I once 
learned to speak English, I easily learned to read 
English. Strange as it may seem, the first book 
that I read in the English tongue was the history 
of Aaron Burr and his celebrated trial. The next 
book was Irving's "Lite of Washington." Capt. 
Magruder, afterward Major-General Magruder of 
the Confederate army, my old captain, let me have 
the book. He said it would make a good Amer- 
ican of me, and it did. My next book was 
Bancroft's " History of the United States." This 
was followed by Gibbon's "History of Rome," and 
from that time on I have always been passionately 
fond of history. 

I have never cared for games of any kind ; con- 
sequently I have never played any except croquet, 
and never liked that. I love music and painting; 
especially am I fond of vocal music. I am passion- 



3IO Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

ately fond of children — especially little girls. 
Children intuitively seem to know my fondness 
for them, and they soon begin to recognize me on 
the street; and when I lecture in a place a week 
or ten days, as I usually do, it is the children who 
always greet me the first thing when I leave the 
platform. 

I was always fond of reading religious literature, 
and especially had a passion for reading or investi- 
gating religious beliefs and controversies; so that 
I am fairly well posted in regard to the beliefs of 
the leading religious denominations : and I think 
the fact that I have read so many of these books 
of controversy has brought me to the point of 
appreciating how little theological views have to 
do with Christian life and character. Since I have 
arrived at what they call the ''years of understand- 
ing," my views upon theological matters have 
greatly changed. My religious views at this writing 
(November 28th, 1899) 'are these: I believe in one 
eternal God and loving Father of all, the Creator 
and Governor of all things. I believe in Jesus 
Christ, who was sent to teach us the way of salva- 
tion and truth. I believe it is our religious duty 
to do all we can to overcome every evil propensity 
of our nature, and I believe that through God's 
grace and power we can accomplish this. I 
believe we should carry our religion into all the 
affairs of life. In all of our transactions with our 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 311 

fellowmen, we should in every case do as we 
would'have them do unto us. 

I am a member of the First Congregational 
Church at Shelbyville, Illinois, Rev. J. L. Douthit, 
pastor. 

*HOW THE WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING 
WAS UNMASKED. 

In the summer of 1881- there appeared an 
announcement in the papers of Rockford, Illinois, 
that a certain minister of one of our well-known, 
popular, and aristocratic churches would speak in 
the Opera House of that city on the subject ot 
temperance. 

There being a great deal of interest in temper- 
ance at the time in that city, the Opera House 
was full to overflowing. When the prominent 
temperance people arrived, they were amazed to 
find nearly all, if not all, the saloon-keepers of the 
city present, also the prominent brewer of the city, 
and other persons who were generally known to be 
opposed to temperance reform. Their amazement 
was so great that they wondered if the millennium 
had come. 

The clerical gentleman came, and began speak- 
ing without any introduction. The first five or 
ten minutes were occupied in deploring the evil of 



'■■Note : — The following two very interesting articles should have 
been inserted in previous chapters, but were received too late ; hence 
their insertion here. — Editor. 



312 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

intemperance. Then he glided off into a discussion 
of the prohibition question, denouncing it •as an 
insane policy, destructive of personal rights of the 
citizen, and ineffective in promoting its desired end. 
The speaker used the argument that is generally 
used by those who oppose the prohibition idea. 
The saloon-keepers, the brewer, and the anti-tem- 
perance people applauded him frequently and 
loudly. 

While he was in the city of Rockford the 
preacher was interviewed, and said that his 
expenses were paid by prominent Christian men of 
the State, who did not wish to have their names 
mentioned, on account of the abuse they would 
be sure to receive from the cranks and fanatics. 

This same temperance preacher spoke in nearly 
all the prominent towns of Illinois. At the close 
of his address at Lincoln, Illinois, he was challenged 
to meet in discussion in that city John B. Finch 
of Nebraska, who was national chairman of the 
Prohibition party. He accepted the challenge, 
and a date was fixed. 

I happened to be In Lincoln, Nebraska, at the 
time when Mr. Finch received the notification of the 
debate. Finch came to me, bringing with him the 
letter, and said that he was convinced the minister 
was in the pay of the liquor men, and that a plan 
must be laid to catch him and expose him. So 
we formed a plan. I secured an envelope and a 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 313 

letter-head of a prominent liquor dealer of Lincoln, 
Nebraska, and wrote the following letter: 

Hon, Harry Ruebens, Attorney for the Liquor Dealers'* 
Association of Chicago. 

My Dear Sir :— I hear that the Rev. C— C— B— , of 
Iowa, is lecturing against prohibition with great success in 
Illinois, under the auspices of your Association. When could 
his services be secured to speak in this State, and what are his 
charges ? 

In a few days after, I received a response from 
Mr. Ruebens, written on the official letter-head of 
the Liquor Dealers' Association. He said I had 

better address Mr. B direct, giving me the 

town in Iowa where Rev. B resided. 

So I wrote him as follows, using Mr. Rueben's 
letter as a credential: 

My Dear Sir : — When could the Liquor Dealers' Asso- 
ciation of this State ( Nebraska ) secure your services to give a 
series of speeches in this State against prohibition, in behalf of 
the liquor dealers, and how much would you charge for the same ? 

In a few days I received a letter from the rev- 
erend gentleman, on a letter-head of the rectory of 
Christ's Church, in which he said : 

My Dear Sir : — Your letter received. I will come to 
you at the same terms on which I have been speaking for the 
Liquor Dealers' Association of Illinois. They pay me twenty- 
five dollars per lecture and allow me ten dollars a day for travel- 
ing expenses. I shall be very happy to come and speak in your 
State at the same terms. 

I am soon to have a debate with John B. Finch, of your city. 



314 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

This correspondence was certified to, and an 
affidavit was made, and all was placed in the hands 
of Mr. Finch. When he went to Lincoln, Illinois, 
to hold the debate, Mr. Finch had the opening, 
and in his speech he charged the reverend gentle- 
man with being in the paid interest of the Liquor 
Dealers' Association of Illinois. 

The reverend gentleman (?) in his reply entered 
into a denial with a great show of indignation, and 
closed his protest in these words: "I declare here 
in the presence of this great audience that the 
statement made by my opponent this evening, 
that I have received and am now receiving any pay 
as compensation from the Liquor Dealers' Asso- 
ciation of this State, to be false and malicious, and 
I invoke the presence of Almighty God to the 
truthfulness of this statement." 

That closed the discussion for that night. The 
next day the friends of the liquor interest, together 
with the clergyman of the same church of which 
this reverend gentleman was a member, sought to 

get up a good deal of sympathy for Rev. Mr. B , 

because of what they claimed to be a false and 
unwarranted attack upon his high character as a 
Christian minister. 

The next evening Mr. Finch opened the dis- 
cussion again, and spoke of his charge of the 
night before, and of the denial. Then, drawing 
the papers from his pocket, he proceeded to read 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 315 

the entire correspondence, in which the reverend 
gentleman confessed that he was in the pay of the 
Liquor Dealers' Association of Illinois, and stated 
his willingness to go to Nebraska and speak for 
the liquor men on the same terms. 

A denial was impossible. A lady who sat on 
the platform beside him told me that she never saw 
a man look as he did : perspiration rolled from his 
face in great drops, his chest rose and fell, and his 
face first turned to whiteness, and then was covered 
with blushes of shame. He had been convicted 
before the great audience not only of being in the 
pay of the liquor interest, but of being a liar and a 
perjurer. 

The hypocrite was thus unmasked. The Liquor 
Dealers' Association let him drop. They had 
banked on his standing as a Christian minister, 
but when that was gone, they had no further 
use for him. 

Since then, when I read of ministers in any 
church writing articles in defence of the liquor 
traffic, or preaching sermons in denunciation of 
laudable efforts that are being made to overthrow 
the saloon power, 1 always wonder if they are 
getting twenty-five dollars a day and expenses. 

THE GREATEST CRIME 1 EVER COMMITTED. 

It is the saying among the French, that an 
Englishman will arise on a beautiful morning — 



3i6 Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 

which they occasionally have in England — and say: 
"This is a glorious morning, let us go out and kill 
something." But I never had a fondness for the 
murder of animals or birds, or even fish. 

Some years ago, I was stopping with a friend, 
a doctor in a little town in Illinois, and he pro- 
posed that we should go out and kill something. 
So, giving me a musket, and taking one for him- 
self, we started for a small grove a couple of miles 
from his house, but failed to find anything to 
kill. The squirrels, which were our objective game, 
had evidently got an inkling of our coming, and 
kept out of sight. After an hour or so spent in 
the forest, we started to return to the house. 

Sauntering leisurely along under some tall elms, 
I heard a bird singing, and looking up I saw a wee 
bit of a bird perched upon a lofty limb, singing very 
sweetly. Without a moment's thought, and with- 
out the slightest idea that I could hit so small a 
mark (for I had none of the spirit of murder in my 
heart), I up with my musket and banged away. I 
saw some feathers fly, and the little songster came 
dropping down from branch to branch, and fell at 
my feet. I stooped down and picked it up. It 
was a tiny little thing, not much larger than my 
thumb, of a yellowish green color, as beautiful as 
it could be. Then like a flash the thought came 
upon me: what a contemptible deed I had done! 
Here was one of God's beautiful creatures that had 



Life of Colonel John Sobieski. 317 

just as much right to existence as I, and its life, 
doubtless, was as sweet to it as mine was to me, 
and at the very moment that it was singing its 
beautiful songs to make the world more pleasant 
and glorious, I had brutally shot it to death! 

I carefully buried it among the leaves, and then 
promised myself that I would never again wantonly 
destroy life. I then begged my friend, who wore 
a pair of very heavy boots, to please kick me over 
to his house. This he refused to do. But I 
returned to his home a wiser and a sadder man. 

I regard this the greatest crime I -ever com- 
mitted. 



3i8 The Rise and Fall of the Polish Republic. 



THE RISE AND FALL OF THE 
POLISH REPUBLIC. 

This is Colonel Sobieski's most famous lecture, in which is told the 
whole story of his people's struggle for freedom. 

A nation, like an individual, as soon as it ceases 
to play an important part in the affairs of men, is 
forgotten. Take the men who laid the foundation 
of the American Republic, how few of the names 
of the founders have survived the century: 
Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, Adams, and 
Hamilton, and that is about all. Other men^ 
struggled, sacrificed, and died, and yet how 
strangely their names would sound to the average 
person of this generation ; and 'tis so with a nation. 

A little over a hundred years ago my native 
country was one of the most powerful in Europe. 
In population we exceeded all except France and 
Russia. In territory we exceeded them all except 
Russia. In art, science, education, we were well 
up to the most of them. In the achievement of 
arms I think we eclipsed them all; and yet a little 
more than a century has passed since she was so 
foully assassinated: and how little is the world's 
knowledge of that once great country. 

I am often reminded of it in my travels. Upon 
one occasion I was introduced to a gentleman 



The Rise and Fall of the Polish Republic. 319 

belonging to one of the learned professions, who said 
to me: "I should judge that you are a foreigner, 
by your name." 

I said, "Yes, I was born across the water." 

"I should judge you to be an Italian," said he. 

I said, "No, I was born in Poland." 

He said, "Poland, Poland — let me see — Poland. 
Oh yes! I remember now; that's where the polar 
bears come from." 

I remember upon another occasion, 1 had been 
lecturing for a week in one of the college towns of 
Illinois. A few weeks afterward I met a clergy- 
man, in whose church I had lectured while there. 
He told me this story. 

A few days after my departure, one of his par- 
ishioners was called upon by a friend, and in 
the course of the conversation they spoke of my 
lectures, and spoke very kindly of them. 

The caller said: "I thought he was such 
a fine-looking gentleman, too ; that is, for a China- 
man." 

"Why," said her friend, "he's not a Chinaman; 
he was born in Poland." 

"Well," she said, "isn't China in Poland?" 

I only speak of this to show how in a little over 
a century from the time Poland was so powerful, 
she has passed from the stage of action, and her 
memory has faded from the thoughts and knowledge 
of men. 



320 The Rise and Fall of the Polish Republic. 

In this address I shall only discourse upon her 
history from the time of the republic, 1572. The 
circumstances that caused the origin of the repub- 
lic were these. 

The Jagellon dynasty, which had ruled in that 
country for a hundred years, had become extinct. 
Now it became necessary either to found a new 
dynasty, or to found a new form of government; 
and the Polish people — and when I say the Polish 
people, I mean the nobility — had got a glimmer, as 
it were, of popular government, but failed to com- 
prehend the whole idea. They could not under- 
stand how the rule of the majority could be less 
odious to the the ruled minority, than the single 
despot. So they organized the new government 
upon the unit system. It provided first that the 
first officer of the republic should be styled a king, 
yet they denied him all kingly authority. He did 
not possess one-tenth of the power that the Presi- 
dent of the American Republic exercises under 
her constitution. He was not much more than the 
chief marshal of the republic. Then he had- to be 
chosen by a unanimous vote of the constituency, in 
which every nobleman in the republic had a voice 
and a vote. A single vote given adversely was 
just as effective to defeat as though every 
vote in the republic had been cast against him. 
The law-making power was vested in two Houses, 
called the Diet, and every proposed enactment had 



The Rise and Fall of the Polish Republic. 321 

to be passed by a unanimous vote ; and what was 
still more absurd, was what was known as veto 
libertum, by which at any time during the proceed- 
ings any single member by quitting the body could 
bring the entire proceedings to a standstill. 

Another great defect of our government was 
our serfdom. More than two-thirds of the people 
were serfs. The only difference between our serfs, 
and the slaves of this country of a generation ago, 
was that your slaves could be sold from the auction- 
block, while our serfs could not be sold. They 
were a part of the realty itself. Your slaves 
belonged to a different race; ours were our own 
race — our own people — our own countrymen. 
And when I look back over the last hundred years 
of sadness and sorrow, — that hundred years of 
sorrow and sadness that is unspeakable, — and when 
I ask, "Why all of this?" the answer comes back, 
'Tt is but the recompense for our own sins against 
our own countrymen." 

Now, having spoken of some of the defects of 
our constitution, I will speak of some of its virtues. 
It has been supposed by the world that religious 
liberty is of quite recent origin. Yet Poland put 
in her constitution three hundred years ago these 
words: ''The right to worship God as one sees 
fit and proper, shall never be questioned." Under 
that provision Jew and Gentile, Catholic and Prot- 
estant, Mohammedan and infidel, were at perfect 



32 2 The Rise and Fall of the Polish Republic. 

liberty to worship God as they saw fit and proper. 

Another article of our constitution was just as 
extraordinary, considering the age in which it was 
promulgated. Up to a hundred years ago, nation 
made war upon nation, often simply to plunder 
each other — "for revenue only;" yet Poland put 
in her constitution three hundred years ago these 
words: "The arms of the republic shall never be 
engaged, except for these purposes: in defense of 
the republic, and in defense of the Christian 
religion." And in the two hundred years that the 
republic existed, this provision was never violated. 

Now, having spoken of her peculiar institutions, 
I will proceed to speak of her military grandeur. 
It had ever been the dream of every successor 
of the orreat Mohammed, that the time would come 
when the Crescent would triumph everywhere, and 
that the religion of the great Prophet would be 
universal. This had led to seven hundred years of 
almost constant contest between the followers of 
Jesus, so called, on one side, and the followers of 
Mohammed on the other side ; and Poland, occupy- 
ing the position that she did, often became the 
battle-ground between these two contending faiths. 
Poland stood like a wall of fire protecting the 
Christian world from the swords of Mohammedan 
fanatics, who again and again sought to overwhelm 
the Christian world. 



The Rise and Fall of the Polish Republic. 323 

I shall in this discourse speak only of the last 
great struggle that the powers of Mohammed made 
to conquer Christendom. This was in 1683. Hith- 
erto, in their battle against Christendom, they had 
ever found a united Christian world banded against 
them. But now all of this was changed. The 
Christian world had become hopelessly divided 
into two hostile parties, hating each other, if pos- 
sible, with more bitterness than their ancient 
foe: the followers of Martin Luther on one hand, 
and the Pope of Rome on the other. 

"Now," said Mohammed the Fourth, "Allah once 
more smiles upon us; and in my own day we are to 
sweep the hated Cross from existence, and the Cres- 
cent shall wave at Rome — shall wave the world 
over." 

So in the spring of 1683, with an army vari- 
ously estimated from five to eight hundred thous- 
and, — I will compromise it, and call it six hundred 
thousand, — under the leadership of one of Moham- 
med's greatest favorites, they marched out west- 
ward to what they believed would be their final 
campaign of conquest. Such was the terror 
they invoked, that they practically reached the walls 
of Vienna unopposed. When they reached Hun- 
gary they were reinforced by fifty thousand brave 
Hungarian troops. Hungary, long oppressed by 
Austria, had been promised her religious and 
political liberty if she would aid the Moham- 



324 The Rise and Fall of the PoHsh Republic. 

medan army. The Mohammedan army arrived at 
the walls of Vienna about the first of July. All 
Europe was in consternation and alarm. 

It was at this time that a deputation of forty 
German and Austrian noblemen came down to the 
court of our king, John the Third, who is known 
in history as John Sobieski, the greatest warrior of 
his day, and with the exception of Napoleon and 
Frederick the Great, the greatest warrior of mod- 
ern times. This delegation came into his presence, 
bowing before him and kissing his garments, and 
addressed him. They spoke of the battles he had 
fought and the victories he had won when he had 
been outnumbered ten to one. They said they be- 
lieved that God had raised him up to succor 
Europe. They spoke of how at that very moment 
an army of six hundred thousand Turks were bat- 
tering down the walls of Vienna. They closed by 
using these words: "Oh, your Majesty! come to 
our rescue, and Europe will owe a debt of gratitude 
to Poland that will never be forgotten." 

How strangely sound those words in review of 
the events a hundred years afterward. Sobieski 
at once ordered the assembling of his army. The 
Polish army was never a large one, as the serfs 
were not permitted to serve in it ; only the gentil- 
ity and the nobility. But while the army was 
small, it was composed of the very best material ; 
hence its great reputation. When he reached the 



The Rise and Fall of the Polish Republic. 325 

frontier, Sobieski was reinforced by thirty thous- 
and Germans under the Duke of Lorraine. With 
this united army, now numbering seventy thous- 
and, they marched toward the Danube. They 
expected that when they reached the Danube, they 
would find the bridge that spanned the river either 
destroyed or their passage disputed. But, to their 
joy, they found neither to be the case. 

That is a characteristic of the Turk. I remem- 
ber at the time of the Turko-Russian War in 1877, 
I used to predict the certain triumph of the Turks. 
With so much confidence I used to say: "The 
Russian army will never cross the Danube." But 
when I saw them crossing it practically unopposed, 
but steering toward the Balkans, I said: "Now I 
understand them; instead of attacking them at 
the Danube, they will attack them in the Balkans." 
So, with a palpitating heart I watched each day the 
march of the Russian army into the Balkans. I 
said: "In those narrow defiles all the wrongs of 
my native country will be wiped out in blood." 
But judge my surprise, if you can, — you certainly 
cannot my chagrin, — when I saw them entering 
those defiles, passing through unopposed; and not 
until they reached the plain beyond, where man 
stood for man, did they attack them at all. 

I have never prayed for the Turks since. I 
thought if a people would not avail themselves of 
strategy better than that, I would not insult the 



326 The Rise and Fall of the Polish Republic. 

Almighty by asking him to help. And, upon this 
occasion, had they only destroyed the bridge, or had 
they with a small force opposed Sobieski's passage 
of the Danube, they could have delayed him for a 
sufficient length of time to have prevented the 
saving of Vienna; and had they done so, how differ- 
ently the history of the world would read to-day. 

On the night of the 11th of September, So- 
bieski's army had arrived on the top of Kalem- 
burg Heights. The city of Vienna is situated in 
the valley of the Danube, that historic river sep- 
arating into two branches, and reuniting again below 
the city. Forty-eight hours before the arrival of 
Sobieski's army, Count Stahremberg, the com- 
mander of the city, — for the king and court had long 
since deserted the city, — announced to his people 
that unless help came within forty-eight hours he 
would be compelled to open negotiations for the 
surrender of the city. In this action he was cer- 
tainly justified by the situation. The walls of the 
city were crumbling, and starvation and epidemic 
prevailed within the city. The conquest of a 
Christian city by a Mohammedan army two hun- 
dred years ago meant that all of the strong 
men would be taken away to serve as slaves, and 
all the beautiful women would be taken away to 
grace the harems of the Mohammedan conquerofs. 

The archbishop issued a proclamation asking 
the people to come up to the Cathedral of St. 



The Rise and Fall of the Polish Republic. 327 

Stephen and devote the day to prayer. Said he 
in his proclamation: "Since all earthly kings have 
failed us, now let us ask the- King of kings and the 
Prince of princes to interpose in our behalf." And 
all day long the people gathered round their great 
cathedral, inside, outside, everywhere, asking 
God's interposition in their behalf; and when night 
came the priests remained at the altars, still invok- 
ing the favor of Almighty God. 

Every morning for more than three weeks a 
man had been sent to the top of the tower of 
St. Stephen to see if there was any appearance of 
the army of the rescuers. But the morning after 
the day of prayer, the fateful morning of the 12th 
of September, was the last morning. Now just by 
the wave of the hand the fate of the people would 
be sealed. So w^arriors left their places at the 
bridge, and women left their homes, to gather 
about St. Stephen to watch the signal from the top 
of the tower. 

The man started out upon his journey up the 
tower. He must have seemed to the people of that 
beleaguered city like a messenger going into the 
presence of the Almighty. Arriving at the top 
of the tower, before raising his eyes to look 
in the direction of Kalemburg, he dropped 
his head for a moment in silent prayer. Now, 
raising his eyes and looking in the direction of 
Mt. Kalemburg, how his heart must have leaped 



328 The Rise and Fall of the Polish Republic. 

with joy, for lo aad behold! its crest was all covered 
with the army of Sobieski. With his glass he 
could easily discern the barred banner of Poland; 
and he waved back the glad tidings: ''The city is 
saved; the King of Poland has come." Upon that 
announcement the thousands who had gathered 
around the cathedral rent the sky with their shouts 
of joy. The glad warriors returned to the bridge 
to continue their resistance, while mothers and 
daughters returned to their homes, giving thanks 
to God for his deliverance from their terrible foe. 

But while this feeling of exultation was going 
on in the city, quite different was the feeling on 
Kalemburg Heights. When the morning dawned 
and the Christian army looked down beneath 
them, what a sight greeted them! 

Vienna at that time was a city of about two 
hundred and fifty thousand population, nestling 
there in the beautiful valley of the Danube. 
Stretching out before them as far as eye could see, 
and farther, was this magnificent valley of the 
Danube. In the distance loomed up grand old 
St. Stephen. But, alas! the city was surrounded, 
and the valley filled with six hundred thousand 
warriors. These men were semi-barbarians : 
Turkey, Persia, Arabia, and the remotest part of 
Asia had contributed to this army. Breeches in 
the wall, they could see, had already been made. 
Cheers and shouts of the beleaguered host could be 



The Rise and Fall of the Polish Republic. 329 

distinctly heard. It was indeed a sight most 
appalling- to all except the stoutest heart. 

Shortly after daylight the Duke of Lorraine 
came to the camp of our king and begged him to 
retreat, declaring the Mohammedan army would 
devour our army, that it would be madness to 
attack them, and it would be courting destruction. 

The answer of our king was: "I shall attack 
them this day. I know their army is a mighty one 
and their leader is supposed to be a man of great 
ability; but a leader who permitted us unopposed 
to cross the Danube right under his nose, a soldier 
who has been here for two months and has never 
intrenched himself, and who has disposed of his 
army about the city in such utter disregard, has 
neither sense, prudence, nor science. It shows 
that his reputation is greater than his merits. I 
shall attack them this day, and before the sun goes 
down that army will be fleeing before my face." 

The duke returned to his camp, only to return 
an hour afterward with the announcement that 
his men had mutinied, declaring that they would 
not be marched out to a useless slaughter, and 
begged of our king to come down and address his 
soldiers. 

It is said by the historians that our king was 
the handsomest man of his day; and judging by 
the pictures I have seen of him, as well as descrip- 
tions I have read, I think this might have been the 



330 The Rise and Fall of the PoHsh Republic. 

case. Something- over six feet tall, with a high 
forehead, an abundance of black curly hair, and 
large, flashing black eyes, he was indeed a man of 
imposing appearance. His education was com- 
plete. He could speak fluently every language of 
Europe. 

He immediately went down to the camp of the 
Germans and addressed them. He said: "Soldiers 
of Germany, we are to fight a battle to-day, not 
for despoliation or plunder, but a battle for the 
Cross. While we contend with an army apparently 
so overwhelming in numbers, yet encamped around, 
about, and above us are the invisible hosts of Heav- 
en, who will bring confusion to the foe and victory 
to our arms. This day, by the blessing of 
Almighty God and the Christian's Christ and 
Redeemer, we are to crush yonder exultant foe, and 
write such a page in the world's history that will 
cause mankind to glorify the Cross in all ages to 
come." And pointing to the city, he exclaimed: 
*'While the garrison of yonder city is bravely 
defending it, the mothers and daughters are 
engaged in prayer in our behalf." 

When he closed his oration the sturdy sons of 
Germany shouted: "Let the King of Poland lead 
us: we'll follow him to victory or to death." 

Returning to his camp, he began preparation 
for action. Mass was said, and then it was custo- 
mary in those days to have a battle-cry to shout on 



The Rise and Fall of the Polish Republic. 331 

going forth to battle ; so our pious king gave to 
his men, these words of the psalmist: "Not unto 
us, but unto Thee be the glory." 

At eleven o'clock they began to descend into 
the valley. Atone o'clock they had reached the 
valley, where they met a part of the Mohammed- 
an army, which had been sent to oppose their 
progress; and after a short engagement defeated 
them, and sent them scampering back upon their 
main lines. 

At four o'clock the line of battle for a general 
engagement was formed. Our king placed the 
German troops on the right, giving them the post 
of honor; in the centre he placed his own infantry,; 
upon the left and flanking, his magnificent cavalry. 
This cavalry was a most brilliant body of men : 
every man of them was a knight, commanded 
by the king in person, the most knightly man of 
that age or any other age. Thus, ladies and 
gentlemen, you have the picture. 

September 12th, 1683, at four o'clock in the 
afternoon, these two great systems of religion, 
the followers of Jesus on one hand, and the followers 
of Mohammed on the other, after seven hundred 
years of almost constant conflict, confronted each 
other upon the field of battle for the last time 
as foes. Doubtless what assisted the Christian 
army that day was a peculiar incident. The 
Mohammedans did not understand the signs of 



332 The Rise and Fall of the Polish Republic. 

astronomy, and had ever regarded an eclipse to be 
the wrath of Heaven. Just as the Christian army 
moved forward to attack, a total eclipse of the sun 
set in. The presence of our king had been 
denied by the Mohammedan commander to his 
men, for the name of Poland's king was a terror to 
Mohammedans everywhere. But now when he 
came blazing out at the head of his magnificent 
staff and cavalry, his presence could no longer be 
denied. And the word went through the 
Mohammedan ranks: " By Allah, the kin^ is with 
them." 

"Aye," said the Kham of the Crimea, "see 
the awful black spot is approaching the sun." 

Just at that moment the seventy thousand 
Christian soldiers moved forward to attack. All 
were shouting: "Not unto us, not unto us, but 
unto Thee be the glory." And they fell upon that 
army, eight times their number, with the power of 
an avalanche ; and in two hours time they crushed 
it completely, scattering it like chaff before the 
wind. The Mohammedans, in their dismay, as they 
fled left behind them their camp, their equipage, 
their gold, their precious stones, their carriages, 
their chariots, their horses and elephants — every- 
thing that they had brought with them to make 
their entrance into Rome brilliant and imposing; 
never stopping until the borders of Hungary were 
reached. 



The Rise and Fall of the Polish Republic. 333 

The next morning the Christian army entered 
the city through the very gaps in the wall 
through which the Mohammedans would have 
marched that same morning, had it not been for 
the arrival of Sobieski's army. They marched to 
the Cathedral of St. Stephen, where they all bowed 
in prayer. Then our king entered the church and 
led in chanting the song of victory, the Te Deum. 
The archbishop proceeded to the outer porch of 
the cathedral, where he preached to two hundred 
thousand people there gathered, taking for his text 
these words: ''There was a man sent from God, 
whose name was John." 

A hundred years passes away, when an army 
marches out from this same city with their faces 
turned toward Poland. Do they go for the pur- 
pose of paying back this debt? No: they go for 
the purpose of joining with the armies of Russia 
and Prussia to wipe from the map of the world the 
nation that had saved them. No wonder that 
Voltaire said in speaking of it, that "God only 
permitted the damning deed, that he might show 
to the world what kings were made out of." 

We now pass on through a hundred years, and 
we come to the event that led to the overthrow of 
the republic. The absurd constitution largely 
contributed; a weak, drunken, dissipating king 
was another contributing cause ; and, worst of all, 
Frederick the Great was the king of Prussia. 



334 The Rise and Fall of the Polish Republic. 

I hardly know how to speak of this monarch. 
When I think of his genius, I feel I could almost 
fall down and worship him. Greater than Napo- 
leon, greater than Hannibal, in my opinion, was 
this marvelous man. We see him when he came 
to the kingship of Prussia, then a little, insignificant 
power, and yet, when in the Seven Years' War two- 
thirds of Europe, numbering a hundred and twenty 
millions of people, banded against him, he fought 
them for seven years, and beat them in the end. 

Yet, when I turn from his genius and contem- 
plate his character, I shrink from him as I would 
from a leper. ■ If in all the seventy years of his life 
he ever did a good deed, if he ever had a good 
thought, I have failed to find record of it. 

x^bout the first act of his so-called glorious 
reign was to rob Austria of one of her finest prov- 
inces. This had led to seven years of war. Now, 
old and about to die, he wished to conciliate 
Austria before passing off the stage of action. So 
he sent a deputation to Vienna, proposing the par- 
tition of Poland ; guaranteeing to Austria a valu- 
able province, much more valuable than the one 
he had wrested from her. After some hesitation 
it was acceded to. Then the question arose, how 
will Russia regard it? So they sent a deputation 
down to St. Petersburg. 

Catherine the Second was the empress of 
Russia. All I have said in regard to Frederick 



The Rise and Fall of the Pohsh Republic. 335 

the Great, I can apply to this wonderful woman. 
In ability she has never had her equal upon the 
Russian throne; and in my opinion but few among 
the world's great sovereigns have equaled this 
remarkable woman. But in character she was just 
as depraved as Frederick the Great. Why God 
in his loving mercy permitted two such sovereigns 
to reign at the same time, I cannot understand. 

When the proposition was made to her, she said 
she would consent to it on this condition: that she 
was to have a territory as large as both of theirs 
put together. This was consented to, and they 
joined their armies together and entered Poland 
and robbed her of more than one third of her ter- 
ritory, while our miserable king never raised his 
arms to defend his country. 

About this time the American Revolution 
occurred, and there came to these shores two sons 
of Poland. One, the young and gifted Pulaski, 
whose services were so eminent, whose death so 
sad, and yet glorious, while leading the soldiers of 
the Colonies at Savannah; where since a grateful 
nation has erected upon the spot which drank up 
his rich blood, a monument that will exist as long 
as your hills remain, to testify the appreciation and 
love of a free people for one who died for their 
liberty. 

But of the other I love to speak the most. Of 
all the sons of Poland, he was the most illustrious. 



336 The Rise and Fall of the Polish Republic. 

I have not language fit to describe him. The only 
thing I can do is what we always do in describing 
those who are especially endowed with patriotism, 
virtue, and honor; and when we wish to put the 
capstone on, we say this, and this is enough: "He 
was our Washington." Of course I refer to 
Kosciusko. Coming to this country, joining the 
army of Washington, becoming his chief of staff, 
for six years he associated with that great charac- 
ter; became so imbued with his spirit that when 
he returned to Poland he entered upon the work 
of reform in his own country. He entered the 
Assembly, he moved a revision in the constitution 
by striking out all those absurd features I have 
mentioned ; and what I think was better than 
everything else, he provided that when the sun 
should rise on the first day of January, that the 
shackles should fall from every serf, and from that 
moment every son of Poland should stand free 
before the law. 

This was accepted by the Polish people, but 
it came just at the period of the French Revolution; 
and the surrounding nations declared that they 
could see germs of republicanism that endangered 
their own integrity. So again they divided Poland, 
still our king not resisting. Now the time had 
come for Kosciusko to act ; so he issued his proc- 
lamation, calling upon Poland's sons to rally to 
the standard of the country and drive the foul 



The Rise and Fall of the Polish Republic. 337 

invaders from her soil. Now began the grandest 
and the most terrific struggle for freedom the world 
has ever seen. There could be but one ending 
of this unequal combat, and it came at last. In 
that awful night of death, where thirty thousand 
women and children were massacred by the 
German troops, amid the shouting of murderous 
soldiers and the shrieking of dying women and 
children, the Republic of Poland, after two hundred 
years of existence, passed forever from the view of 
m.an. 

About this time Napoleon was forging to the 
front, and the sons of Poland looked to him as 
one who would lead them out to victory. So 
they gathered around his standard, more than one 
hundred thousand, under the chivalrous and 
knightly Poniatowski, and in all the campaigns of 
Napoleon, in Italy, in Germany, even in Russia, 
they followed him. When the men whom Napo- 
leon had taken from the ranks and had made mar- 
shals, dukes, princes, and kings, had deserted him, 
these sons of Poland remained true and loyal 
until the last hour of Waterloo. 

When the Congress assembled at Vienna in 
1815, England lost her fine opportunity. England 
was the mistress of the world in 1815. It had 
been England's pluck, England's courage, that 
had conquered the great Napoleon and chained 
him as a prisoner to that lone rock in the sea. 



338 The Rise and Fall of the Polish Republic. 

The Congress assembled at Vienna for the 
avowed purpose of readjusting the map of Europe. 
Now, if England had only been wise, and said 
through her representative in that assembly: "We 
have met here for the purpose of readjusting the 
map of Europe. Let us do it in such a way that 
mankind can never doubt our honesty : let us begin 
by restoring Poland." If she had done so, how 
different would be her position to-day, trembling 
as she is before the power of Russia, knowing that 
sooner or later she must measure swords with her, 
with the result so doubtful. Ah ! if England had 
only been wise then, she, and not Russia, would be 
mistress of the East. But apparently desiring to 
apologize to the world, they took about one-third 
of what originally constituted Poland, erected 
that into what they were pleased to call the 
Kingdom of Poland, and declared that she should 
have a constitution of her own and a diet of her 
own, that the emperor of Russia should be the 
king of Poland, and that he should go to Warsaw 
and should there take the oath of fidelity to the 
constitution. These were splendid guarantees, 
but were never respected or complied with. 

Fifteen years pass and we come to the uprising 
of 1830. A hundred young men, students of the 
university, had entered into a covenant that they 
would dedicate their lives to the regeneration of 
Poland. Coming into their quarters one night, 



The Rise and Fall of the Polish Republic. 339 

they learned that the next morning they would all 
be seized and hurried to Siberia. Then these 
young men resolved that they would give tbeir 
lives as costly as possible. They immediately 
came out of their quarters and proceeded to the 
barracks, where three thousand Polish troops were 
quartered. Arriving there, they shouted: "Down 
with the standard of Russia, and up with the stand- 
ard of Poland." 

The troops fraternized with them. They then 
marched up into the city, shouting: *'Women to 
homes, and men to arms;" and within six hours 
from the time that those young men first raised 
their shout of defiance, a battle had been fought, 
a brilliant victory had been won, and the viceroy 
and Russians had been expelled from Warsaw. 

When the sun rose the next morning and 
looked down upon that city, what a sight greeted 
it ! Only twelve hours before it had gone down 
upon a people apparently sleeping in the embrace 
of death. Now it was greeted by a hundred thou- 
sand men and women, marching through the 
streets, singing their patriotic songs, and waving 
their national flag. It was not a nation born in a 
day, but a nation resurrected in a night. 

But the patriots made a mistake right at the 
beginning, by listening to the counsel of the con- 
servatives. The conservatives advised them not 
to strike then, or rather, not to follow up the sue- 



340 The Rise and Fall of the Polish Republic. 

cesses already won, until they first appealed to the 
sovereigns of Europe and reminded them of their 
guarantees at Vienna ; and to appeal to their 
knightly honor to do justice to Poland; just as 
though any sovereigns ever had any knightly 
honor. There has never been a case of it since 
the days of Nimrod, clean down to that last poor 
remnant of royalty that is floating around some- 
where, the ex-Queen of the Hawaiian Islands. But 
of course an appeal to wait is always a taking one, 
and the appeal was an eloquent one. It spoke of 
the past glories of Poland ; it reminded them of the 
seven hundred years that Poland had stood as a 
protector of Europe against the powers of Moham- 
med ; reminded them of Vienna, when all Europe 
was in dismay ; how Poland's king and Poland's 
armies had saved Europe from Mohammedan con- 
quest ; reminded them of the damning deed by 
which it had originally been stricken from the map 
of the world ; reminded them of their guarantees 
but fifteen years before; and now appealed to them 
that they would deal justly with Poland. But 
alas ! alas ! or rather in the language of Campbell 
the poet : 

''France was under the Bourbon thrall; 

And the rest of Europe had no soul at all." 

So Poland learned that alone she must fight her 
own battles. 



The Rise and Fall of the Polish Republic. 341 

In this lecture I will only describe the great 
battle of that uprising, the battle of Warsaw. It 
was fought on February 25th, 1831. The Russian 
army numbered one hundred and forty-five thou- 
sand infantry, sixty-seven thousand cavalry, and 
three hundred pieces of artillery ; while the 
Polish army numbered but forty-five thousand all 
told, not one-half of them properly armed, and 
with but twelve pieces of artillery. Yet, in a 
battle of twelve hours they utterly defeated the 
mighty host of Russia, showing how mighty are 
men who fight for liberty, as against those who 
fight for despotism. 

In the morning, just before the battle opened, 
the commander found that they were short of 
ammunition, and the men were instructed to make 
all of their powder and lead tell. A regiment of 
students — twelve hundred, students of the Univer- 
sity of Warsaw — commanded by my uncle, himself 
a student, answering for his men, said : "Others 
can have our ammunition." They discarded their 
pieces and drew spears Instead, and in that battle 
of twelve hours they constantly charged and 
charged and charged. And when night came, out 
of twelve hundred that the morning sun had found 
so warm, brave, and grand, but twenty remained 
alive. The others had gone down with their faces 
to the foe, dying so nobly, that Poland might be 
free. A grander exhibition of devotion the world 



342 The Rise and Fall of the Polish Republic. 

has never seen, not even excepting the ancient 
Spartans. 

The battle opened at five o'clock in the morn- 
ing by the Russian right of sixty thousand attack- 
ing the Polish left of ten thousand. At ten o'clock 
the Russian commander, seeing he was getting 
the worst of it, ordered the attack along the whole 
line; and from ten o'clock until four o'clock 
those sons of the North struggled for the mastery. 
Just as the sun was sinking in the west the Russian 
troops had been driven from the field and com- 
pelled to take shelter in the forest beyond. 
Wishing to draw them out where they could get a 
better opportunity to attack them again, the Polish 
commander feigned a retreat. The feint was a 
success. 

The Russian commander, drawing out his 
watch, said: "After this day of blood and of 
horror, I will take supper to-night in the palace of 
Villanow." 

He now ordered his troops to advance again, 
and when they reached the open field they were 
again unexpectedly attacked, and the attack was 
so fierce that the Russian troops became panic- 
stricken, and fled from the field. But that night 
when the remnant of the Polish army re-entered 
the city, out of forty-five thousand that the army 
had been composed of in the morning, less than 
eight thousand remained. 



The Rise and Fall of the Polish Republic. 343 

But after a few more battles, in which the Polish 
patriots showed unparalleled bravery and devotion 
to their country, the inevitable came, and again 
Poland found herself at the mercy of the nineteenth 
century. Nicholas the First of Russia now began 
acts of oppression that the world shuddered at 
as it contemplated them. When the slaves in 
the reign of Nero arose in rebellion after their 
suppression, he executed three thousand of 
them, and that shocked the whole Christian 
world. But Nicholas the First of Russia executed 
more than twelve thousand. There was hardly 
a day of that awful month of November, and 
hardly a town in that unfortunate country, but 
men whose only crime had been that they had tried 
to make their country free, could^be seen marching 
forth to die upon the scaffold. 

We pass on now for fifteen years, and come to 
the uprising of 1846. It was intended as a part of 
the great uprising which took place two years 
afterward throughout all of Europe; but the 
spies of Russia precipitated the contest: so it was 
not a great uprising, but it was a brave one. In 
the last battle of that contest, my father, wounded, 
was taken prisoner, and conveyed to the prison 
near Warsaw, where he was afterward executed. 

We will now pass on until 1863.* Again 
Poland's sons made a strike for liberty. An 
address was issued to the entire civilized world, 



344 The Rise and Fall of the Polish Republic. 

asking for their sympathy and support. But of all 
the powers of Europe, Napoleon the Third of 
France alone showed any disposition of sympathy, 
and the result was as in preceding struggles, — an 
exhibition of wonderful heroism and sacrifice, — 
but the ending was the same. Poland, bleeding 
and crushed, lay again at the feet of Russia. A 
decree was now issued, which wiped the very 
name of Poland from the map of Europe: even the 
viceroyship was abolished, and Poland was com- 
pletely absorbed as a part of the great empire of 
Russia. 

I am often asked, "What is the condition of 
Poland to-day ?" 

I answer, most deplorable. 

As an illustration of this, I will give an incident 
which occurred a few years ago at the house of one 
of the nobles in Warsaw. There was a party one 
evening at this house. A young lady of sixteen 
went ^p to the piano and dashed off a prohibited 
national air. As soon as the attention of the com- 
pany was called to it, she was stopped and chided, 
as they knew, however small the party, the Russian 
spy would not be far away. 

The next morning before she had risen from 
her bed, a detachment of soldiers entered, batter- 
ing down the door of her room. She was ordered 
to arise and dress herself and follow them ; and was 
compelled to dress herself in the presence of the 



The Rise and Fall of the Polish Republic. 345 

brutal soldiers, and barely time for that. She was 
conveyed before a Russian magistrate, and this 
crime I have given was computed against her. She 
confessed the fault and pleaded for mercy, and her 
plea was supplemented by that of her mother. The 
old Russian magistrate said, in consideration of her 
extreme youth, and as this was her first offense, he 
would deal leniently with her ; but warned her 
against a repetition. He ordered her to be taken 
to the guard-house and kept there till high noon, 
and then to be taken to the market-place, and there 
be stripped to the waist and receive upon her bare 
back the lash of the knout thirty times, from the 
effects of which she died some days afterward; and 
for this act the magistrate was complimented by 
the emperor, and promoted. 

And the question is often asked: " But are 
there not hopes for the future, as Russia advances 
in Christian civilization?" 

There can be no improvement until there first 
comes such a gigantic upheaval, that the upheaval 
in France during the days of the Revolution will be 
mildness in comparison. 

How wonderfully interesting is the struggle of 
mankind for liberty, beginning way back there 
when Jesus said to his disciples : " Ye are men and 
brethren." That's the first we get anywhere of 
the enunciation of that great principle of the 
Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. 



346 The Rise and Fall of the Polish Republic. 

Of all the words spoken by the great Nazarene, 
none have proved mightier than that utterance. 
From that moment to this there has never been 
a moment when the idea of liberty has ever quitted 
the heart or the brain of man. Down through the 
dark ages this idea of liberty constantly flashes 
out like sparks of electricity in the awful gloom of 
those days, until we see the yeomen of England, 
led on by their barons, wringing from King John 
the Great Charter; again in the establishment of 
the Polish Republic we see this principle largely 
recognized; the next in the English Revolution, 
when the grand old Cromwell brought the head of 
the tyrant Charles to the block, and taught the 
world a lesson that it has never forgotten — that 
tyrants should never rule with impunity. 

From this time the idea of liberty now grew 
grandly apace. Next it blazed out in beauty and 
glory on the borders of the American forests, when 
the great Jefferson, writing with the pen of inspi- 
ration, wrote: "We hold this truth to be self- 
evident: that all men are created equal." This prin- 
ciple, vindicated in the success of the American 
Revolution, vindicated in the establishment of this 
republic upon that idea, then leaped across the 
water to the old world. Then began the struggle of 
a century for liberty. Battles have been fought, 
victories have been won, reverses have been 
suffered, but still this idea of liberty goes on; and 



The Rise and Fall of the Polish Republic. 347 

it will go on until that great utterance of the 
Master is fully realized, and believed in by men. 
Then men will understand that there is no such 
thing as race or nationality ; that we all belong 
to one great family, having the same origin and 
bound for the same destiny. When that blessed 
day shall come, then crowns and thrones will be a 
thing of the past; wars will cease from off the face 
of the earth ; then will come the blessed day of 
peace, liberty, and fraternity. 



348 A Brief History of Poland. 



A BRIEF HISTORY OF POLAND. 

[Extract from The International Encyclopedia. — Dodd, Mead & Co., 
New York City.] 

Poland, called by the natives Polska (a plain), 
a former kingdom of Europe — renowned in medi- 
eval history as the sole champion of Christendom 
against the Turks ; and, till recently, an object of 
general and profound sympathy throughout West- 
ern Europe, from its unprecedented misfortunes — 
was, immediately previous to its dismemberment, 
bounded on the north by the Baltic Sea from 
Dantzic to Riga, and by the Russian Provinces of 
Riga and Pskov ; on the east by the Russian 
Provinces of Smolensk, Tchernigov, Poltava, and 
Kherson ; on the south by Bessarabia, Moldavia, 
and the Carpathian Mountains; on the west by the 
Prussian Provinces of Silesia, Brandenburg and 
Pomerania. Its greatest length from north to 
south was seven hundred and thirteen English 
miles; and from east to west six hundred and 
ninety-three miles; an area which in 1880 had a 
population of 24,000,000. This extensive tract 
forms a part of the great central European plain, 
and is crossed by only one range of hills, forming 
the watershed between the Baltic and the Black 
Sea rivers. The soil is mostly a light fertile loam. 



A Brief History of Poland. 349 

well adapted for the cereal crops, though here and 
there occur extensive barren tracts of sand, heath, 
and swamp, especially in the eastern districts. 
Much of the fertileland is permanent pasture, which 
is of the richest quality ; and much is occupied with 
extensive forests of pine, birch, oak, etc. Rye, 
wheat, barley, and other cereals, hemp, wood and 
its products, honey and wax, cattle, sheep, and 
horses, inexhaustible mines of salt, and a little 
silver, iron, copper, and lead, constitute the chief 
natural riches of the country. 

The kingdom of Poland, during the period of 
its greatest extent, after the accession of the grand- 
duchy of Lithuania in the beginning of the 
fifteenth century, was subdivided for purposes of 
government into about forty palatinates, which 
were mostly governed by hereditary chiefs. The 
people were divided into two great classes — nobles 
and serfs. The noble class, which was the govern- 
ing and privileged class, included the higher nobles, 
the inferior nobles (a numerous class, correspond- 
ing to the knights, gentry, etc., of other countries), 
and the clergy, and numbered in all more than 
200,000; the serfs were the merchants, tradesmen, 
and agriculturists, and were attached, not, as in 
other countries, to masters, but to the soil. The 
serfs were thus much less liable to ill-usage, and 
retained more of human energy and dignity than 
the generality of slaves. The nobles were the pro- 



3 so A Brief History of Poland. 

prietors of the soil, and appropriated the larger 
portion of its products, the serfs in many cases 
receiving only as much as was necessary for the sup- 
port of themselves and their families. The nobles 
were chivalrous, high-spirited, hospitable, and 
patriotic ; the serfs, who had also a stake, though 
a small one, in the independence of the country, 
were patriotic and good-natured, but sluggish. 

The present population of the provinces in- 
cluded in the Poland of former days, consists of 
Poles, Lithuanians, Germans, Jews, Russians, 
Roumanians, gipsies, etc. The Poles, who num- 
ber 15,600,000, form the bulk of the population; 
the Lithuanians, 2,100,000 in number, inhabit the 
north-east part of the country ; the Germans, of 
whom there are 2,000,000, live mostly in towns 
and in villages apart by themselves, and bear the 
usual character for economy, industry, and that 
excessivelove and admiration for the "Fatherland" 
which guided their politics during the last days of 
Polish independence; the Jews are very numerous, 
being reckoned at 2,200,000, but here they are 
poorer and less enterprising than in other 
countries ; the remainder is composed of Russians 
(who are few in number, excepting in some of the 
eastern districts), Russian soldiery, Roumanians, 
gipsies, Magyars, etc. Of Roman Catholics, there 
are about 9,400,000; Greeks, united and non-united, 
7,900,000 ; Protestants (mostly Lutherans and Ger- 



A Brief History of Poland. 351 

man), 2,360,000; the rest are Jews, Armenians, 

Moslems, etc. 

The Poles are ethnologically a branch of the 
Slavs. The name appears first in history as a 
designation of a tribe, the Polani, who dwelt be- 
tween the Oder and Vistula. In course of time, 
the Polani acquired an ascendency over the other 
tribes, most of whom became amalgamated with 
the ruling race, whose name thus became the gen- 
eral designation. Polish historians profess to go 
as far back as the fourth century ; but the list ot 
rulers which they give are probably those of sep- 
arate tribes, and not of the combined race now 
known as Poles. 

Ziemovicz, said to be the second monarch of 
the Piast dynasty, is considered to be the first 
ruler whose history is to any extent to be relied 
upon; and it was not till a century after, when his 
descendant, Micislas I. (962-92), occupied the 
throne, and became a convert to Christianity, that 
Poland took rank as one of the political powers of 
Europe. Micislas (as was the general custom 
among the Polish rulers) divided his dominions 
among his sons; but one of them, Boleslas I. 
(992-1025), surnamed ''the great," soon reunited 
the separate portions, and extended his kingdom 
beyond the Oder, the Carpathians, and the 
Dniester, and sustained a successful war with the 
Emperor Henry II. of Germany, conquering 



352 A Brief History of Poland. 

Cracovia, Moravia, Lusatia, and Misnia. Under 
him Poland began to assume unity and consistency; 
commerce, the impartial administration of justice, 
and Christianity were encouraged and promoted ; 
and about the same time, the distinction between 
the nobles or warrior class ( those who were able 
to equip a horse ) and the agriculturists .was dis- 
tinctly drawn. Boleslas was recognized as *' king" 
by the German emperors. After a period of 
anarchy, he was succeeded by his son, Casimir 
(1040-58), whose reign, and that of his warlike son, 
Boleslas II. (1058-81), though brilliant, were of 
little real profit to the country. 

Boleslas III. (1102-39), an energetic monarch, 
annexed Pomerania, defeated the pagan Prussians, 
and defended Silesia against the German emperors. 
His death was the signal for a contest among 
the various claimants for the throne, which was 
speedily followed, as usual, by a division of the 
country, and during this disturbance Pomerania 
emancipated itself from Polish rule. 

The Mongols swept over the country in 1241, 
reducing it to the verge of ruin, and defeating the 
Poles in a great battle near Wahlstatt. From this 
time Poland began to decline ; various districts 
were ceded to the markgrafs of Brandenburg, while 
many districts began to^ be colonized by Germans. 
Numbers of Jews, persecuted in Western Europe 
about this time, took refuge in Poland. Wladislas 



A Brief History of Poland. 353 

(1305-33), surnamed Lokietek (the short), again 
restored unity to the country, judicial abuses and 
all illegally acquired privileges were abolished, and 
the first diet (1331) assembled for legislative pur- 
poses. In conjunction with Gedymin, Grand Duke 
of Lithuania, a vigorous war was carried on against 
the Teutonic Knights, on returning from which 
the aged monarch (he was now seventy years old) 
experienced a triumphant reception from his sub- 
jects, who hailed him as the ''father of his country," 
His son, Casimir III., the Great (1333-70), greatly 
increased the power and prosperity of Poland by 
cultivating with zeal the arts of peace, amending 
the laws, and consolidating his territories by profit- 
able exchanges with the neighboring powers. 
With Casimir, the Piast dynasty became extinct, 
after a sway of five hundred and ten years, accord- 
ing to the old Polish chroniclers. His nephew, 
Lewis the Great, King of Hungary, succeeded him 
by the will of the deceased monarch and the elec- 
tion of the diet; but during his reign, Poland was 
treated merely as an appanage of Hungary. 

Then followed several other indifferent rulers, 
till 1506, when Sigismund I. (1506-48), surnamed 
"the great", the fourth son of Casimir, raised the 
country to the utmost pitch of prosperity. Gener- 
ous and enlightened, he was beloved by the masses, 
whom he endeavored to benefit physically and 
mentally, while his firmness and justness com- 



354 A Brief History of Poland. 

manded the respect of the turbulent nobles. He 
wisely kept aloof from the religious quarrels which 
distracted Western Europe, by allowing- his sub- 
jects perfect freedom of choice in matters of relig- 
ion; he was, however, forced into a war with 
Russia, in which he lost Smolensk; but he was 
partly compensated by obtaining lordship over 
Moldavia. His son, Sigismund II., Augustus, was 
a successor worthy of him. During his reign 
many abuses were rectified, and the extraordinary 
privileges of the higher nobles were curtailed or 
abolished; Lithuania was finally joined indissolubly 
to Poland, and from this time there was to be but 
one diet for the united realm; each retained, how- 
ever, its own army, titles, treasury, and law. 
Lithuania w^as at the same time reduced by the 
annexation of Podlachia, Volhynia, and the 
Ukraine, to Poland. Livonia was conquered from 
the Knights Sword-bearers (a community similar 
to, though much less distinguished than the 
Teutonic Knights) ; and the power, prosperity and 
and opulence of the state seemed to guarantee its 
position as the most powerful state in Eastern 
Europe for a long time to come. 

The population almost doubled itself under the 
two Sigismunds; but this dynasty, whose sway was 
so happy for Poland, ceased with them ; and the 
warrior class having tasted the sweets of freedom, 
determined to preserve it by rendering the mon- 



A Brief History of Poland. 355 

archy elective. The election was made by the two 
chambers of the diet — viz., the senate, or chamber 
of the chief nobles, and the chamber of nuncios, or 
representatives of the inferior nobles. He who was 
chosen king possessed the right of assembling the 
diet, but had to give a list of the subjects to be 
discussed ; and the representatives before setting 
out, were instructed as to the side they were to 
support. The diet only lasted six weeks, and its 
decisions were required to be unanimous ; so that 
if the libe7'um veto (the right of forbidding the pass- 
ing of any measure) were freely exercised even by 
a single member, all legislation was at a standstill. 
The evil effects of these regulations were not so 
much felt at first, as the members were character- 
ized by honesty and, zeal for the general good; 
but latterly, when venality and subservience to the 
neighboring powers began to show themselves, 
all the measures necessary for protecting Poland 
from dependence on her neighbors were, by a few 
corrupt and treacherous representatives, rendered 
of no avail. 

The first elective monarch was Henry of Valois 
(III. of France), who, however, soon abandoned the 
the throne for that of France, and was succeeded 
by Stephen Battory (1575-86), Prince of Transyl- 
vania, a man of energy and talent, who carried on 
war successfully against the Russians, who had 
attempted to seize Livonia, pursued them into the 



356 A Brief History of Poland. 

very heart of their own country, and compelled the 
Czar to sue for peace; he also subdued the semi- 
independent Cossacks of the Ukraine, and to some 
degree introduced civilization among them. His 
successor, Sigismund III. (1586-1632) who was 
succeeded by his sons, Wladislas IV. (1632-48) 
and John Casimir (1648-72), was of the Vasa fam- 
ily, and was the crown-prince of Sweden; but his 
election, far from cementing a bond of union 
between the two countries, only imbittered former 
dissensions. These three Swedish monarchs were 
most unworthy successors to Poland's ablest king, 
as they had neither talents for governing nor char- 
acters and sentiments congenial to a warlike 
nation; on the contrary, their policy was weak, 
tortuous, and vacillating. Yet they were always 
quarreling with their neighbors, declaring war with 
Russia, Sweden, or Turkey, in the most imprudent 
and reckless manner. But the Polish armies, 
though as little fostered and cared for as the other 
portions of the nation, were everywhere victorious; 
the Swedish and Muscovite armies were succes- 
sively annihilated; Moscow was taken, and the 
Russians reduced to such an abject condition, that 
they offered to make Sigismund's son, Wladislas, 
their czar. Sweden made a similar offer to another 
son of the Polish monarch ; but the latter's absurd 
behavior lost for Poland this rich result of her 
great victories; and the foolish policy of the whole 



A Brief History of Poland." 357 

three not only rendered fruitless all the lavish 
expenditure of Polish blood and treasure, but lost 
to the country many of her richest provinces, and 
left her without a sing-le ally. During the reign of 
this dynasty, Wallachia and Moldavia were 
snatched by the Turks from under the Polish pro- 
tectorate ; Livonia, with Riga, was conquered 
(1605-21), along with part of Prussia (1629), by 
Sweden ; and Brandenburg established itself in 
complete independence. 

In the reign of John Casimir, Poland was 
attacked simultaneously by Russia, Sweden, 
Brandenburg (the germ of the present kingdom of 
Prussia), the Transylvanians, and the Cossacks ; 
the country was entirely overrun; Warsaw, Wilna, 
and Lemberg taken ; and the king compelled to 
flee to Silesia. But the celebrated staff of Polish 
generals was not yet extinct; Czarniecki's sword 
was as the breath of the destroying angel to 
Poland's enemies; and after being defeated in 
detail, they were ignominiously expelled from the 
country. But in the subsequent treaties, Ducal or 
East Prussia was wholly given up to Brandenburg; 
almost all Livonia to Sweden; and Smolensk, 
Severia or Tchernigov, and the Ukraine beyond 
the Dnieper, were given to* Russia. Michael 
Wisniowiecki (1668-74), the son of one of the 
group of famous generals above alluded to, but 
himself an imbecile, was (contrary to his own wish 



358 -A Brief History of Poland. 

— for he was well aware of his own deficiencies) 
elected as their next monarch ; a war with Turkey, 
concluded by an ignominious peace, was the chief 
event of his reign. But the senate rejected the 
shameful treaty, the Polish army was again reen- 
forced, and the Polish monarch resigned the com- 
mand to John Sobieski the Hetman, and the Turks 
were routed with great slaughter at Choczim (1673). 
After some dissensions concerning the election of 
a successor, John (III.) Sobieski (1674-96) was 
chosen ; but his reign, though it crowned the Poles 
with abundance of the laurel wreaths of victory, 
was productive of no good to the internal adminis- 
tration. As Sobieski's successor the Prince of 
Conti was legally elected, and proclaimed king ; 
but the cabinet of Versailles allowed this splendid 
opportunity of becoming supreme in Europe to 
escape; and Augustus II. of Saxony, a protege of 
the House of Austria, entered Poland at the head 
of a Saxon army, and succeeded in obtaining the 
throne. Augustus, unlike all his predecessors, 
never seemed to identify his interests with those of 
his Polish subjects: and though he gained their 
hearts by promising to reconquer for Poland her 
lost provinces, yet this promise was chiefly made 
as an excuse for l^eeping his Saxon army in the 
country, in violation of the pacta co7ive7ita (the 
"magna charta" of Poland). His war with the 
Turks restored to Poland part of the Ukraine and 



A Brief History of Poland. 359 

the fortress of Kaminiec ; but that with Charles 
XII. brought nothing but misfortune. The war 
with Sweden was unpopular in Poland ; in fact, 
the Poles ot the eastern provinces received Charles 
with open arms; but his attempt to force upon 
them Stanislas Leszynski as their king severely 
wounded their national pride. Augustus returned 
after the battle of Poltava ; his rival retired without 
a contest ; a close alliance was formed with Russia, 
and the Russian troops which had campaigned in 
Poland against the Swedes were, along with his 
Saxon army, retained. The Poles demanded their 
extradition, but in vain ; and the Russian cabinet 
interfered ( 1717 ) between the king and his sub- 
jects, compelling both parties to sign a treaty of 
peace. This was the commencement of Poland's 
dependence on Russia, and her consequent decline. 
By the instigation of Peter the Great, the Polish 
army was reduced from 80,000 to 18,000; and the 
country was further weakened by the diffusion of 
of effeminacy, immorality, and prodigality, through 
the evil example and influence of the court. Reli- 
gious fanaticism also more fully developed its most 
odious features during his reign, and the massacre 
of the Protestants at Thorn (1724) and the 
legalized exclusion of them from all public offices 
was the result. The succeeding reign of Augus- 
tus III. (1733-63) was of the same character; the 
government fell more and more under Russian 



360 A Brief History of Poland. 

influence, and its political relations with other 
countries gradually ceased. Toward the end of 
his reign, the more enlightened of the Poles, seeing 
the radical defects of the constitution, the want of 
a strong central government, and the dangers of 
the libeimni veto, entered into a league to promote 
the establishment of a well-organized hereditary 
monarchy. But the Conservative or Republican 
party was equally strong, and relied on Russian 
influence; and the conflict between these parties 
became more imbittered from the fact that the 
Monarchists supported the Jesuits in disqualifying 
all Dissenters from holding public ofifices, while the 
Republican party supported the Dissidents. The 
Dissidents dated their grievances from 1717, but 
the great conflict between them and their opponents 
did not break out till 1763. 

The cabinets of St. Petersburg and Berlin now 
(1764) presented to the Poles Stanislas Ponia- 
towski as their king.. This gross insult, intensified 
by the incapacity of Stanislas for such an office, 
could not be borne in quiet; the king and the Rus- 
sian ambassador were compelled in the diet to listen 
to the most spirited protests against Russian inter- 
ference; but the intense national spirit of the Poles 
only recoiled upon themselves, for the Russian am- 
bassador craftily incited them to insurrection, and 
kept alive their mutual dissensions. The monarchic, 
or Czartoryski party (so called because it was headed 



A Brief History of Poland. 361 

by a Lithuanian prince of this name), had suc- 
ceeded in abolishing the liberum veto, and effecting 
many other improvements ; but they at the same 
time more severely oppressed the Dissidents ; and 
Russia, finding that the political policy of this 
party was speedily releasing Poland from her grasp, 
joined the party of the Dissidents as the champion 
of religious toleration! Her ambassador caused 
the chief leaders of the Catholic party to be secretly 
kidnapped, and sent to Siberia, and compelled the 
Republicans to accept the protectorate of Russia. 
The " Confederation of Bar" (so called from 
Bar in Podolia) was now formed by a few zealous 
patriots, an army was assembled, and war declared 
against Russia. The Confederates were supported 
by Turkey, which also declared war against the 
Czarina ; and Russia, alarmed at the appearance of 
affairs, proposed to the king and diet an alliance, 
which both firmly refused. Frederick the Great of 
Prussia, who had formerly gained the consent of 
Austria to a partition of Poland, now, in 1770, 
made the same proposal to Russia, and in 1772 
\ki^ first partition was effected; Stanislas and his 
diet claiming the mediation and assistance of the 
other powers of Europe without effect. He was 
forced in the following year to convoke a diet for 
the purpose of recognizing the claims of the three 
partitioning powers to the territories they had 
seized, but few members appeared, and these pre- 



362 A Brief History of Poland. 

served perfect silence. The territories seized by 
the three powers were as follows: 

Eng. Sq. Miles. Population. 

Russia 42,000 1,800,000 

Prussia 13,000 416,000 

Austria 27,000 2.700,000 

The whole country was now aroused to a full 
sense of its danger; and the diet of the diminished 
kingdom labored to amend the constitution and 
strengthen the administration by a liberal code 
of laws and regulations, which gave political 
rights to the cities, civil rights to the peas- 
antry, and rendered the kingly authority hered- 
itary. In this they were encouraged by Prussia, 
whose king, Frederic William, swore to defend 
them against Russia; but in 1791 Catharine 
II., after great labor, obtained by means of 
intrigues and bribery, the services of Jive (out of 
200,000) of the Polish nobility, who protested 
against the new constitution which had just (May 
3, 1791) been established, and drew up a document 
at Targowitz, which they forwarded to the Russian 
court. Catharine, thus armed with a pretext for 
interference, advanced her army, and Prussia 
proving traitorous, a second fruitless resistance 
to the united Prussians and Russians, headed by 
Joseph Poniatowski and Kosciusko, was followed 
by a second partition (1793) between Russia and 
Prussia, as follows: 



A Brief History of Poland. 363 

Eng. Sq. Miles. Population. 

Russia ....'.,.. 96,000 3,000,000 

Prussia 22,000 1,100,000 

which the diet were forced to sanction at the point 
of the bayonet. The Poles now became desperate; 
a general rising took place (1794); the Prussians 
were compelled to retreat to their own country, 
and the Russians several times routed; but then a 
new enemy appeared on the scene. Austria was 
chagrined at having taken no part in the second 
partition, and was determined not to be behind- 
hand on this occasion; her army accordingly 
advanced, compelling the Poles to retreat; and 
fresh hordes of Russians arriving, Kosciusko, at 
the head of the last patriot army, was defeated; 
and the sack of Praga, followed by the capture of 
Warsaw, finally annihilated the Polish monarchy. 
The third a?id last partition (1795) distributed the 
remainder of the country as follows: 

Eng. Sq. Miles. Population. 

Russia 43,000 1,200,000 

Prussia 21,000 1,000,000 

Austria 18,000 1,0Q0,000 

King Stanislas resigned his crown, and died 
broken-hearted at St. Petersburg in 1798. The 
subsequent success of the French against the 
Russians, and the tempting promises of the 
Emperor Napoleon to reconstitute Poland, rallied 
round him a faithful army of patriots, who distin- 
guished themselves in the campaigns of the French 



364 A Brief History of Poland. 

ag-ainst Russia and Austria; but all that Napoleon 
accomplished in fulfilment of his promise was the 
establishment, by the Treaty of Tilsit (1807) of the 
duchy of Warsaw, chiefly out of the Prussian 
share of Poland, with a liberal constitution, and the 
elector of Saxony at its head. The duchy was an 
energetic little state, and under the guidance of 
Prince Joseph Poniatowski, wrenched western 
Galicia from Austria (1809), at the same time 
furnishing a numerous and much-valued contingent 
to the French armies; but the advance of the grand 
allied army in 1813 put an end to its existence. 
After the cessions by Austria in 1809, the duchy 
contained 58,290 English square miles, with a 
population of about 4,000,000. Dantzic was also 
declared a republic, but returned to Prussia 
(February 3, 1814). 

The division of Poland . was rearranged by 
the Congress of Vienna in 1815, the original 
shares of Prussia and Austria were diminished, and 
that part of the duchy of Warsaw which was not 
restored to Prussia and Austria was united as the 
kingdom of Poland to the Russian Empire, but 
merely by the bond of a personal union (the same 
monarch being the sovereign of each), the two 
, states being wholly independent of and uncon- 
nected with each other; and the other parts of 
Poland were completely incorporated with the 
kino-doms which had seized them. As if in 



A Brief History of Poland. 365 

mockery of its spirit of independence, the town of 
Cracow with a small surrounding territory, was 
declared free and independent, under the guardian- 
ship of Austria. 

The Czar at first gave a liberal constitution, 
including biennial diets, a responsible ministry, 
an independent judiciary, a separate standing 
army, and liberty of the press; and he seemed 
to take pride in his title of King of Poland; 
but his brother Constantine, having been appointed 
military governor, speedily put an end to the 
harmony between the Czar and the Poles, and 
drove the latter into insurrection. This discontent 
at first found vent in secret societies; but on 
November 30, 1830, Constantine and his Russians 
were driven out of Warsaw, and a general insur- 
rection of the people, headed by the aristocracy, 
took place. Prince Czartoryski was appointed 
president of the provisional government, and 
military leaders, as Radzivil, Dembinski, Bem,etc., 
were soon found; but a general want of energy 
in the administration, dilatoriness on the part of 
of the military leaders, and the checking of the 
spread of the insurrection till fruitless negotiations 
had been entered into with Nicholas, were errors 
fatal to the success of the Poles. From January^ 
1831, till September 8th of the same year, a series 
of bloody conflicts were fought, in which the 
Prussians, and Austrians, with pitiable subservi- 



366 A Brief History of Poland, 

ence, aided the Czar. At first the Poles were 
successful; but the taking of the capital by Paske- 
vitch soon ended the war, which was followed as a 
matter of course by imprisonment, banishment, con- 
fiscation, and enforced service in the Russian army. 
From this time the independence of Poland was 
suppressed, and in 1832 it was declared to be an 
integral part of the Russian Empire, with a separate 
administration headed by a viceroy of the Czar's 
choosing; the constitution and laws were abrogated;^ 
strict censorship of the press, and the Russian spy 
police system established in all its vigor ; the 
country was robbed of all its rich literary collec- 
tions and works of art; and the most severe of 
arbitrary measures. taken to Russianize the people. 
The outbreaks of 1833 and 1846 were punished by 
the gallows. Simultaneous disturbances (1846) in 
the Prussian and Austrian portions of Poland were 
summarily suppressed; their leaders in Prussia 
were imprisoned and only saved from death by the 
revolution of March, 1848, at Berlin. On Novem- 
ber 6, 1846, the republic of Cracow was incorpor- 
ated with Austria. After the accession of the Czar 
Alexander II., in 1855, the condition of the Poles 
was considerably ameliorated ; an act of amnesty 
brought back many of the expatriated Poles, and 
various other reforms were hoped for, when, in 1861, 
another insurrection broke out. Its origion is 
curious, and gives a thorough insight into the rela- 



A Brief History of Poland. 367 

tions between the Poles and their Russian rulers. 
A large multitude (30,000) had assembled in the 
neighborhood of the battle-field of Grochow (where 
two battles had been fought in the spring of 1831) 
to pray for the souls of those who had fallen; they 
were engaged in- prayer and in singing religious 
chants, when they were charged by the Russian 
cavalry and gens d'armes, several of them killed, and 
numerous arrests made. This event excited intense 
national feeling throughout the country; and other 
national demonstrations, attended with similar mas- 
sacres on the part of the Russians, produced such 
an intense dislike to the latter that most of the 
Poles in the Russian service either resigned or 
deserted. The Russians immediately had recourse 
to the most severely repressive measures, 
forbidding all assemblages even in the churches, 
punishing those who had appeared to mourn the 
death of relatives killed in the previous massacres, 
or who wore garments of certain shapes or colors. 
The application of the Polish nation to the Czar 
(February 28) for the reestablishment of the Polish 
nationality, was rejected, but certain necessary 
reforms were promised. These reforms were on 
the whole very liberal, and tended greatly to allay 
the general excitement ; but the Russian govern- 
ment was very naturally not trusted by the Poles, 
and new disturbances broke out in October of the 
same year. Poland was then declared to be in a state 



368 A Brief History of Poland. 

of siege, and General Luders appointed military 
commandant under the Grand Duke Constantine, 
the nephew of the Grand Duke Constantine above 
mentioned. The country continued in a state of 
commotion without any very decided outbreak ; 
attempts were made to assassinate the grand duke 
and the other Russian officials ; and on January 13, 
1863, Lithuania and Volhynia were also put in a 
state of siege. The committee of the national in- 
surrection issued its first proclamation in February, 
1863; and a week afterward Mieroslavski raised 
the standard of insurrection in the northwest, on 
the Posen frontier. The insurrection committee 
continued to guide the revolt by issuing proclama- 
tions from time to time ; and many districts of 
Augustovo, Radom, Lublin, Volhynia, and Lithuania 
were speedily in insurrection. It was a mere 
guerilla war, and no great or decisive conflicts took 
place ; but the sympathy of Europe was largely 
enlisted on behalf of the Poles. Remonstrances 
from Spain, Sweden, Austria, France and Britain 
conjointly and repeatedly, Italy, the Low Countries, 
Denmark, and Portugal, were wholly disregarded 
by the Czar's ministers, and. mutual reprisals con- 
tinued ; incendiarism and murder reigned rampant; 
the wealthier Poles were ruined by fines and con- 
fiscations ; and the whole population of villages 
were put to the sword by the Russians ; while 
murders and assassinations marked the reign of 



A Brief History of Poland. 369 

terror of the national committee. At last, with the 
officious assistance of Prussia, and the secret sym- 
pathy and support of Austria, the Czar's troops 
succeeded in trampling out (1864) the last embers 
of insurrection. Great numbers of men, women, 
and even children, concerned in, or supposed to 
have favored the revolt, were executed ; crowds 
were transported to Siberia ; and these vigorous 
measures seem to have restored "tranquillity, but 
it is the tranquillity of the desert." Contemporary 
with this last outbreak, symptoms of similar dis- 
affection were distinctly noticeable in Prussian 
Poland, but a strong force of soldiery in the border 
districts toward Russia prevented any outbreak. 
It deserves to be noticed that, with the excep- 
tion of the single revolt of 1846 (which perished 
almost of itself), no rebellion has ever taken place 
in the portion of Poland belonging to Austria. 



37© Life of King John Sobieski. 



LIFE OF KING JOHN SOBIESKI, OR 
JOHN III. OF POLAND. 

In the year 1629, when Sigismund reigned in 
Poland, Louis XIIL in France, the unfortunate 
Charles L in England, the victorious Gustavus 
Adolphus in Sweden, was born John Sobieski, in 
the castle of Olesko. Sobieski was a descendant 
from two families whose origin the Polish geneal- 
ogists have placed high in the obscure ages of 
antiquity. It is a truth of greater certainty that in 
both of the families there has been a succession of 
virtues infinitely more valuable than the highest 
pedigree. 

The famous Zolkiewski, the grandfather of 
Sobieski on the mother's side, defeated the Mus- 
covites in 1610; took the Czar Bafilius, and 
brought him to Sigismund III. In the year 1620 
Zolkiewski forced his way through a hundred 
thousand Turks and Tartars who invested him in 
Moldavia, retreating before this formidable host, 
which pursued and harassed him during a march 
of a hundred leagues. The intrepid palatine after- 
ward met his death at the attack of Sokol, a 
Russian fortress which the Poles took by storm. 
Such was the grandfather of John Sobieski; and 
his father, James Sobieski, was not a degenerate son. 



Life of King John Sobieski. 371 

Poland will long remember the famous battle of 
Choczim, fought in 1621, in which the young Prince 
Wladislas, son of King Sigismund III., had the 
title of commander-in-chief; but the business was 
in fact done by James Sobieski, in the absence of 
the grand general. Two hundred thousand Turks 
and Tartars in that action were defeated by sixty- 
five thousand Poles and Cossacks. 

James Sobieski had two sons, Mark and John, 
whose education he considered devolved upon 
himself. Before they learned languages, he took 
care that they should be acquainted with things, 
and talked to them of justice, beneficence, and 
respect to the laws, as frequently as of military 
glory. John was of a lively, ardent, and impetu- 
ous temper; strongly bent upon whatever he set 
his mind; greedy of praise, and more easily 
wrought upon by disgrace than punishment. 

At an early age he and his brother Mark visited 
France for the purpose of completing their educa- 
tion, and applied themselves to the study of 
languages. The younger one, John, soon became 
master of six languages: French, German, Italian, 
Spanish, Russian, and Latin. After this they 
visited Constantinople, where they prolonged 
their stay with a view of becoming thoroughly 
acquainted with the power that was so often at 
war with Poland. While in Constantinople, their 
father died and left his sons an inheritance of 



372 Life of King John Sobieski.. 

greater value in the memory of his virtues, than in 
the possession of his vast estates. Just as they 
were about leaving Constantinople, they learned 
that a war had broken out between Turkey and 
Poland. They rushed at once to their home, for 
the defense of their country. The Polish army 
had already met with disaster before their arrival. 

When their mother beheld them, she asked: 
"Are you come to avenge your country? I 
renounce you forever as my sons, if you behave 
like the combatants of Pilawiecz." 

What had hitherto been done by John Sobieski, 
now the chief of his family, was but a prelude to his 
future exploits in war. A single event displayed 
the credit that he had acquired in so short a time. 
The Polish army had mutinied in the camp of 
Zborow, a city of Little Poland, upon the borders 
of Podolia ; and every method of quieting the 
sedition, by persuasion, menace, and even the 
cannon of the Lithuanians, was made use of in vain 
by General Czarniecki. The attempt was given up 
as hopeless, when John Sobieski desired to be 
employed. The temerity of extraordinary men is 
justified by the success that attends it. It is easy 
to conceive what address and eloquence he needed 
to persuade men who had arms in their hands. 
The young orator carried his point and won empire 
over the minds of men in a way which would have 
done honor to a consummate general. That achieve- 



Life of King John Sobieski. 373 

ment advanced to the height of glory a youth who 
had as yet borne no public office. The army now 
advanced toward the Cossacks with that unanimity 
of sentiment which is a sure prestige of victory. 
The battle lasted several days and the enemy lost 
more than twenty thousand men. Shortly after 
this, peace was declared, and Sobieski was 
rewarded by the king making him standard-bearer 
of the crown. 

But while John Sobieski served in the army 
that was beaten upon all occasions, he was learn- 
ing to conquer. The first battle that he fought as 
commander was against the army of Charles Gus- 
tavus of Sweden, whose troops were composed of 
Prussian and Swedish men, and were commanded 
by Douglas. Though Douglas largely outnum- 
bered him, yet Sobieski totally defeated him and 
drove him eight miles toward Warsaw. Sweden 
now asked for peace, and it was granted. 

The republic had still two enemies — the Mus- 
covites and the Cossacks — to deal with, and it was 
of the utmost importance to prevent their junction; 
and there was wanted a man of ability to execute 
the commission; so Sobieski was advanced from 
standard-bearer of the crown to the dignity of 
grand marshal. 

John Sobieski having learned to conquer while 
serving under Lubomirski, now prepared to sur- 
pass his master. Hitherto he had lived in a con- 



374 . Life of King John Sobieski. 

tinual scene of combats, in which, being unmarried, 
he had often risked his life and his family's 
together. Besides he now drew near the thirty- 
sixth year of his age. 

Among the maids of honor whom the queen 
had brought from France, without suspecting that 
she brought among them a future queen, the Polish 
nobles took particular notice of one whom the queen 
herself honored with peculiar favor. Her name 
was Mary Casimira De La Grange, daughter of 
Henry De La Grange and Frances De La Chatre. 
Henry De La Grange was better known as Marquis 
D'Arquien, captain of the guard to Phillip of 
Orleans. His daughter Mary, who followed the 
queen into Poland, married Radziwill, the Palatine 
of Sendomir, and Prince of Zamoiski (a town of 
Poland, in the palatinate of Beltz), by whom she 
had four children; and the father did not live long 
afterward. John Sobieski asked her hand in mar- 
riage, which was granted, and the marriage was 
consummated. 

After the death of Czarniecki, John Sobieski 
was made second in command. He had only one 
step left to become the most considerable person 
in the republic. The grand general, Potoski, died 
this year (1667) and Sobieski succeeded to his staff. 

An army of eighty thousand Tartars appeared 
upon the frontier of the kingdom. Poland, so 
exhausted by her great wars, had neither money 



Life of King John Sobieski. 375 

nor men to meet them, having only ten or twelve 
thousand all told to confront this mighty host of 
Tartars. The republic expected nothing but ruin. 
John Sobieski meanwhile had become the general- 
in-chief of the republic; so, gathering together 
twenty thousand men after the greatest exertion, 
and supplying the treasury from his own purse, he 
went out to meet an army of one hundred 
thousand Tartars and Cossacks. 

In a letter addressed to his wife, he said: *'I 
am going to shut myself up in a fortified camp 
before Podahieoz, a place that Doroscensko, the 
Cossack general, intended to besiege." Also that 
on the morrow and the following days he would 
sally out upon the enemy; that he had placed 
ambuscades on all sides, and that in the end he 
would ruin this great army of Tartars. 

The Prince of Conti, to whom this letter was 
shown, could see no possibility of success. Most 
of the Polish officers loudly condemned it, declar- 
ing it was madness to divide so small an army; 
but Sobieski replied that he should stand by his 
plan, and those who were not brave enough to 
face a glorious death, "Let them retire," said he; 
"but as for myself, I shall stay here with those 
brave souls who love their country. This crowd 
of robbers make no impression upon my mind. I 
know that heaven has often given victory to small 
numbers, when- animated with valor, and can you 



37^ Life of King John Sobieski. 

doubt but God will be for us against these infidels!" 
All who were present looked at each other and 
blushed, and no one thought of leaving the camp. 

The battle was fought, and this mighty host of 
Mohammedans was utterly defeated by the Spartan 
band of twenty thousand Poles; and Sobieski 
became one of the great captains of the age, and 
all Europe was astounded. The Mohammedans 
then asked for peace, which was granted. 

General John Sobieski returned to Warsaw* 
where he was received by acclamation. 

King Casimir now resigned his throne, and the 
nobles were assembled to elect his successor. The 
place of election was in the field of Wola, at the 
gates of Warsaw. All the nobles of the kingdom 
had the rfght to vote; so more than two hundred 
thousand men assembled to exercise the highest 
act of freedom. All candidates were excluded 
from the field, and the vote must be unani- 
mous; and the result of the election in this in- 
stance was the selection of Michael Wisniowiecki, 
a young man thirty years old, whose reign was 
signalized by utter lack of ability and appreciation 
for his high office. 

The most remarkable thing of his reign was the 
making of a treaty with the Turks, by which all of 
Ukraine and Podolia, two flourishing provinces, 
were yielded to the Mohammedans, and a guarantee 
was given to pay an annual tribute of one hundred 



Life of King John Sobieski. 377 

thousand ducats. The Diet of Poland rejected 
this treaty' under the swaying influence of John 
Sobieski's eloquence. Said Sobieski: "How will 
the rejection of this treaty be received at Constan- 
tinople? With great indignation, no doubt," he 
replied; "but we have courage and sabers still left 
us; we will not wait for the enemy to come to us, 
but we must immediately go to them." And the 
treaty was rejected amid the ringing acclamation of 
the Diet. Some said that the Greeks would have 
taken Sobieski for the God Apollo, whose oracles 
disclose futurity; others were for reviving the doc- 
trine of Pythagoras, and insisted upon it that the 
souls of all the ancient heroes were united in one 
and passed into General John Sobieski's body. It is 
certain that he was greater than the king who 
heard all of this from his throne. 

General Sobieski, at the head of the army, at 
once marched toward the Turkish camp at Choc- 
zim. The fortifications of this place were deemed 
impregnable. It was defended by a hundred 
thousand Turks. Sobieski's army numbered but 
twenty thousand. The battle was fought the first 
of August. It was the most bloody and awful 
conflict that ever occurred between the Moham- 
medans and the Christians, and the victory for 
Sobieski was complete at every point. At the 
close of the battle, the river was covered with ten 



378 Life of King John Sobieski. 

thousand drowning Turks, and the earth with 
twenty thousand of their slain. 

If we consider the vast superiority of the con- 
quered army, the whole looks like a fable ; but one 
of these two suppositions will account for it: either 
it is a great disadvantage to wait for an enemy in 
entrenchments, or heaven fought on the side of the 
Poles. There is a third supposition which will 
perhaps give a still better solution. When men 
fight not for the whim of a sovereign, but for the 
real interests of themselves and their country, they 
are raised above mortals. 

The king of Poland dying at this time, a new 
election was held, and the one who was in the eyes 
and hearts of all his countrymen, alone could be 
elected; and John Sobieski was elected by accla- 
mation. After being elected to the kingship of 
Poland, refusing to wait for a coronation, he 
marched out with his army again to meet the foe. 
Then e^isued a series of battles mid victories that 
were^ never excelled by the great Napoleon himself. 

We will now pass rapidly, and consider his 
crowning act of glory in rescuing Vienna. But 
before we speak of this, we will pause for a 
moment to speak of his coronation, which was one 
of the most brilliant the world has ever seen. All 
the magnificence of Asia was seen united with all 
the elegance of Europe. Slaves from Ethiopia and 
the East, clothed in azure habits; young Poles in 



Life of King John Sobieski. 379 

purple robes; a whole army dressed to the greatest 
advantage, the equipages of men and horses 
contending with each other in splendor, the gold 
eclipsed by jewels; such was the procession in the 
midst of which Sobieski appeared upon a Persian 
horse, going to take possession of a crown which 
he had merited by his virtues. 

Mohammed now raised an army of a hundred 
and twenty thousand men, reenforced by Tartars so 
that it numbered two hundred thousand. Sobieski 
marched against them with thirty-eight thousand 
men. Again the Mohammedans were beaten, and 
sued for peace. In four campaigns Mohammed 
had lost more than two hundred thousand men, and 
Little Poland, with her great king, was the trium- 
phant defender of Christendom. 

In the spring of 1683, news arrived that the 
Ottoman forces were arriving out of Asia and 
Africa in the vast and fertile plains of Adrianople, 
their usual place of rendezvous when they marched 
against the Christians. It was soon found that 
their objective point was Vienna, the capital of 
Austria. They were reenforced by fifty thousand 
Hungarians, making an army of more than a half 
million of men. It was the largest Mohammedan 
army that was ever martialed or led; it was com- 
manded by Kara Mustapha, the favorite general 
of Mohammed IV. He arrived at the walls of 
Vienna in the early part of July, and completely 



380 Life of King John Sobieski. 

invested the city. King Sobieski arrived in the 
immediate vicinity of Vienna two months later, for 
its relief. His army numbered about seventy 
thousand men, German and Polish troops; and on 
the 12th of September was fought the great battle 
by which Sobieski dealt the Mohammedans such 
a terrible and crushing defeat that it shattered the 
Mohammedan army completely ; and from the 
effects of that terrible defeat the Mohammedan 
power has never recovered to this day. 

King Sobieski stood now at the zenith of his 
power and glory. His health began to fail him in 
about 1691. He had been for forty years a 
soldier. He is described when young as being 
something over six feet tall, with a high, massive 
forehead, with wonderful eyes of blackness and 
beauty, and a mass of dark brown curls. He was 
called the handsomest man of his day. He was 
abstemious in his habits, pious in his religion, 
gentle, loving, and affectionate, in his disposition. 
He was so fascinating in his manners that he 
captivated all wnth whom he came in contact. 
He was so pure in his morals, that when we 
consider the age in which he lived, he was nothing 
less than a phenomenon. His zeal for religion was 
free from the acrimony of an intolerant spirit. 
Greeks, Protestants, and Jews, and some remains of 
the Socinians (Unitarians) lived in peace under his 
government. He died of apoplexy on the 17th 



King John Sobieski, 1683. 381 

day of June, 1696, on the twenty-third anniversary 
of his election, and in the sixty-seventh year of 
his age. 

Charles XII., the Alexander of the North, 
lamented his death in these emphatic terms: *'So 
great a king ought never to have died". 



I 
KING JOHN SOBIESKI, 1683. 

BY DAISY HUBBARD CARLOCK. 

Splendid is the tent of Kara, 

Silken, broidered thick with gold; 
Set with Orient gems whose luster 

Gleams from every wind-swung fold. 
Vast and mighty is the army 

Camped before Vienna's gates; 
Crescent-shaped, the horde of Mongols, 

Sure of triumph, calmly waits. 
Leopold has fled before them, 

Scarce escaping with his life; 
Court and nobles quickly follow, 

Fearful of the coming strife. 
Far around the royal city. 

Smoke ascends from Hungary's plain ; 



,j^. 



382 King John Sobieski, 1683. 

Where were town and peasant cottage, 

Blackened ruins now remain. 
Who will hasten to deliver 

From the proud invader's might ? 
Surely God will hear his people, 
Turn their darkness into light ! 
Lo, — from Poland comes the rescue, 

Sobieski leads the van ; 
Warrior-king and Europe's savior, 

Patriot-prince and noble man ! 
"Not Vienna, but Christ's kingdom. 

Do we fight this day to save," — 
This the watch-word Sobieski 
To his valiant legions gave. 
"Not for earthly monarchs strike we, 
But for Christ, the King of kings." 
''Sobieski," shout the soldiers. 

And the air with tumult rings. 
Dreaded name, that to the foemen. 
Terror brings and dire dismay; - 
For in many a well-fought battle 
Has he held their hosts at bay. 
Forward dashes Sobieski ! 

''Allah ! " cries the Turkish chief, 
' 'Surely now their king is with them ;" 

Sharp the conflict is and brief. 
Six pashas are slain ere evening, 
Kara and his khans have fled 
From the field where lie the thousands 

Of his conquered army — dead. 
On the roll of earth's great heroes, 

Who have won undying fame, 
Graven in light shines "Sobieski," 
Brave and true, a glorious name. 



Colonel John Sobieski, 1892. 383 

II 
COLONEL JOHN SOBIESKI, 1892. 

Where Missouri's stream is flowing 

O'er the prairies of the West^ 
Where the Mississippi's borders 

With the flowers of Spring are drest, 
Sobieski's name is chosen 

On our banners to be borne. 
Let us rally round our standard, 

Praying for the coming morn, 
When with victory on our pennons, 

Men have heeded the command, 
" Strike for God and free His people, 

Save your homes and native land." 
Not alone in ancient story 

Are the world's great lessons taught; 
Not alone on fields of carnage 

Are the grandest victories wrought ; 
If we count '' earth's chosen heroes," 

Those whose lives have been sublime. 
Men whose principles make impress 

On the record of their time, 
They are men, who, seeing Duty, 

Tread its path nor backward turn, 
*' Buy the truth" and sell it never, 

Teach what they through trial learn. 
In this age of great achievement. 

Men are needed who will stand 
'Gainst the hosts of sin and ruin 

Threatening to destroy the land. 
When a Carthaginian army 

Marched victorious on to Rome, 
And the baffled Romans gathered 



384 Colonel John Sobieski, 1892. 

To defend their seven-hilled home, 
Faith in Rome was so triumphant, 

That the soil outside the wall, 
Trampled then by feet of foemen 

Waiting for the city's fall, 
Sold at auction in the Forum, 

Brought its price in Tuscan gold ; 
And this tale of faith undaunted 

Through the centuries- has been told. 
Let us doubt not Truth will triumph, 

They must win who side with right, 
'' No surrender" be our watchword, 

God is King, and Truth is might. 
'' Not our own, but His the glory," 

As" of old, cried Poland's king, 
Sobieski still is leading, 

And the Lord will victory bring. 



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